Roundabout gives big relief to road users at Aavin junction in Madurai city

A huge roundabout that has come up at Aavin junction as part of construction of freedom fighter Velu Nachiyar flyover has significantly eased the flow of traffic on this junction connecting 80 Feet Road in K.K. Nagar with Sivaganga Road.

Otherwise, riding a bike or driving a car on 80 Feet Road towards Kuruvikkaran Salai bridge often had been a nighmarish experience considering the choc-o-bloc traffic congestion at the Aavin junction.

With a 90-seconds red signal for the vehicles coming from Tiruvalluvar statue junction and moving towards Sivaganga Road, it would often take to miss the first chance of green signal to cross the junction.

The long wait on the roads for signal would frustrate the bike riders due to thick smoke bellowing from idling vehicles.

Even as the 80 Feet Road has been wide enough to carry higher number of vehicles, the other road was narrower preventing free left turn for vehicles.

As part of the road improvement work, the Highways Department has established a huge roundabout with lush green meadows and traffic islands around the junction to segregate the flow of traffic in different directions.

This was possible because of land acquisition for broadening the junction on all four corners of the roads. The road level at the junction was raised for free flow of vehicles. Additional lighting arrangements, including a high-mast light in the centre of the roundabout, has lit up the junction.

However, the laying of roads on Sivangaga Road (towards Tiruvalluvar statue junction) is yet to be completed at the junction.

Consequent to the junction improvement work, the police have removed the traffic signal which has done away with waiting for vehicles at the junction.

Vehicles can move slowly around the roundabout to reach any of the other three roads without having to stop.

“However, we have posted a traffic policeman to regulate traffic during peak hours,” a traffic police officer said.

The police have planned to erect blinkers on all four sides to alert vehicle users about the junction. Similarly, a police booth with public address system would come up at the junction to guide the road users.