Commuters will soon find relief from the issues associated with the existing low-level causeway over the Sukhna Choe (seasonal stream) between Manimajra and Sector 26. The Chandigarh Administration has initiated the process to replace it with a four-lane, high-level bridge at an estimated cost of approximately ₹17 crore.
Once the bridge is constructed, traffic flow between Manimajra, Panchkula, and IT Park will remain uninterrupted, even during heavy rains and floods. Tenders have been issued to select a construction agency, and the project is targeted for completion within one year. The proposed bridge will be approximately 500 meters long and 27 meters wide. In addition to four traffic lanes, it will feature cycle tracks and pedestrian walkways (two meters wide) on both sides. The bridge will connect the Sector 26 T-point with Shastri Nagar in Manimajra.
To streamline traffic, the Sector 26 junction will be raised by about two meters. Additionally, a slip road towards Transport Chowk and a ‘free left turn’ for vehicles moving from Sector 26 towards Manimajra will be constructed.
The current causeway gets submerged during heavy rains every year, disrupting connectivity between Chandigarh and Panchkula. During the 2023 monsoon floods, the causeway was damaged due to the release of water from Sukhna Lake, forcing a suspension of traffic for several days. Following this, the Administration prepared the plan for the high-level bridge after conducting a detailed feasibility study and traffic survey.
