RUB CONSTRUCTION TO EASE TRAFFIC CONGESTION

Commuters in the city are relieved to see the construction of Railway Under Bridge (RUB) near Sahibabad railway station. The construction would not only reduce frequent traffic jams but will also provide a direct route to reach the residential hub.

The years’ long demand by the locals of Sahibabad for construction of a railway under bridge has finally been fulfilled by the authority. The construction work has begun with full swing. The locals are heaving a sigh of relief as the development will tremendously reduce commuting time.The budget for the project is around 20 crore and development has been a result of four years of strenuous demands by the locals.“We highlighted our demand countless times with the GDA and railways but only false assurances came our way. We also raised the issue in meetings, sent letters to the authority and even launched campaigns where thousands joined us but the project was in limbo. The area has a population of more than five lakh and the stretch was prone to accidents. So, this project has brought smiles on the faces of the commuters,” says Rajeev Mehta, a resident of the area. Residents are optimistic that the project will be completed within the scheduled deadline. As per the officials, the work got stalled as GDA did not get No Objection Certificate (NOC) from railways which have led to increase in budget to many folds.   The work is expected to be completed by next three months. The construction of RUB would not only provide a direct route to reach Sahibabad but will reduce traffic congestion at Mohan Nagar cross roads.Meanwhile, GDA engineer, Arvind Chowdhary explains, “The locals were demanding the construction since quite some time. After coordinating and acquiring permission from concerned railway department, the work has finally kick-started. Once the construction is complete, the connectivity of Sahibabad will improve with other places in the city and it will put an end to long traffic jams.”

Underpasses

Underpasses are a common solution to avoiding at-grade crossings of roads and active railroad tracks, although the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) recommends bridges, where feasible, due to their security and water drainage advantages. When topography or other factors necessitate the installation of an underpass, an 8-foot vertical clearance is generally recommended (longer tunnels should have a minimum of 10 feet). As with tunnels, striping on the trail surface is important to prevent collisions in the temporary darkness. Additional signs indicating a downward slope, the clearance height and the above cross street may be desirable.

It is possible to construct an underpass with a clearance lower than the recommended guidelines when there is no reasonable alternative. In these cases, consulting with your attorney and liability insurer and requesting a design exemption may be necessary. Again, signage is of

utmost importance to prevent head injuries to bicyclists. Signs instructing bicyclists to dismount, stop or duck, painted warnings on the trail surface, paint on the low clearance, directional signs to alternate routes and a swinging bar before the underpass to indicate the low height are all good solutions.

In 2007, the existing MKT Trail in Columbia, Mo., was rerouted under three city streets, with the new underpass clearance in a couple of places below the recommended height. This was necessitated by the presence of an adjacent streambed. In this instance, the benefits of removing dangerous at-grade crossings of city streets outweighed the potential problems caused by a low ceiling height. Proper signage ensures that trail users are aware of the low clearance.

In some cases, trail users must share a travel lane with motor vehicles in a tunnel or underpass. This is most likely to occur where the construction of a new underpass, tunnel or bridge is prohibitively expensive or limited by topography, and where the existing tunnel or underpass does not have the appropriate width to accommodate both a road and a trail. In these rare instances, AASHTO recommends the installation of both a warning sign and pedestrian-activated beacon at the tunnel entrance to inform motorists that trail users are present. Ideally, shared-lane markings should also be installed.

Hazards

Water is a potential hazard in tunnels and underpasses. As with any other segment of trail, proper drainage is critical and can be accomplished by digging ditches on the sides of the trail or by adding a layer of well-drained ballast in the center of the tunnel to raise the trail above any standing water. Warning signs indicating that the tunnel or underpass should not be used during high-water events are also recommended, particularly in areas prone to flooding.

Poor lighting is another potential problem in tunnels. Tunnels should have a source of light for safety and security and to show off the

interesting elements of the tunnel itself. Install lights in the tunnel, if possible, or post “flashlight-required signs” if permanent lighting is not an option.

Like bridges, tunnels contribute to a memorable trail experience and often act as the signature of their associated trail. Examples of popular tunnels on rail-trails can be found in RTC’s Tunnels on Trails report, along with additional information about 78 tunnels along rail-trails across the country.