Mangaluru: Commuters were caught off guard on Tuesday as the district administration began patchwork repairs on the Kulur Arch Bridge approach near the KIOCL Junction on NH 66—without issuing any prior public notice.
The unexpected maintenance led to heavy traffic congestion, with vehicles backed up from the Kottara flyover all the way to Kulur, causing long delays and commuter frustration throughout the day.
This follows an earlier closure by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), which had restricted traffic movement between KIOCL Junction and the bridge from the night of July 21 to the early hours of July 25. At that time, due to persistent rainfall, traditional asphalting was replaced with paver block laying to withstand waterlogging.
During the earlier closure, interlocking tile work, edge concreting, and barricade installation were undertaken. The joint near the old arch bridge was also widened to facilitate smoother flow. However, potholes continue to pose safety risks along the route.
Officials stated that a complete resurfacing of the area will only be possible once the monsoon season concludes. Until then, commuters may continue facing intermittent disruptions due to temporary repair work.