[narayans80]

Originally Posted by Imminent1776

I drove on the Karnataka stretch today.

The key point is how is the connect between the expressway exit to Venkatagirikota?

[m8002?]

Originally Posted by Imminent1776

I drove on the Karnataka stretch today. Some observations:

- Only the left side of the highway (towards Chennai) appears to be accessible -- cars are driving in both directions on the same left road. Feels a bit sketchy.

Isnt this a recipe for disaster? Making a public announcement that the highway is open and people will tend to speed up unaware that the other carrigeway is not open.

Is this stretch barricaded with well marked entry/exits?

[ravib]

Originally Posted by m8002?

Isnt this a recipe for disaster? Making a public announcement that the highway is open and people will tend to speed up unaware that the other carrigeway is not open.

Is this stretch barricaded with well marked entry/exits?

Yes, it is risky as they provide partial information.

The stretch is barricaded for most part except for few "unexpected" places where locals have already broken the barricade to cross from one side to other wherever, there is a formal U turn is present.
Moreover, there are cattles (goats, sheeps and some cows) grazing on the elevated road which can easily jump off the low height fence , so high risk for cattle life.

The route is so green and there are lots of birds and i saw even Peacock crossing the roads slowly and comfortably. As more traffic picks up and human movement is there, these beauties will go away from this stretches and nearby areas

-Ravi

[m8002?]

Today's paper has an article asking people not to "zoom" on the new highway

With parts of the expressway still under construction and th ..

Read more at:
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/a...campaign=cppst

[temala]

Once this expressway is operational, I'm more concerned about the Bangalore to Tirupati traffic than the Bangalore to Chennai traffic.

Take the Bangarupalem exit and enjoy the "Butter Smooth" Tirupati road from the Chittoor bypass. That ride will be fantastic.

Considering this, I'm still puzzled as to why they reduced the lanes from 8 to 6 and then from 6 to 4.

Interesting to see which route will a car starting from Majestic take.

[RGK]

Originally Posted by narayans80

The key point is how is the connect between the expressway exit to Venkatagirikota?

I called the below number given in the NHAI site to find out the exit to V Kota, but there is no response.

Bangalore (Exprssway)
Project Implementation Unit, Bangalore (Expressway) National Highways Authority of India, Sy.No.84/11, Uttarahalli Main Road, Kengeri, Bangalore - 560060.
CUG No.- 8130006078, Ph: 080-25535888
piubangalore[at]nhai[dot]org

[Imminent1776]

Looks like the expressway has been blocked off again from the Hoskote interchange.

[BlackMambaXX]

Good they have closed it again.

[SourPai]

I was planning to go towards Kotilingeshwar Temple today, but expressway entrance is blocked from Hosur STRR interchange. I wonder what is happening. Is it due to any accidents that have happened recently on this 71Km stretch?

[NPV]

Originally Posted by SourPai

I was planning to go towards Kotilingeshwar Temple today, but expressway entrance is blocked from Hosur STRR interchange. I wonder what is happening. Is it due to any accidents that have happened recently on this 71Km stretch?

Did you mean Hoskote STRR interchange ?

[hsprabhu]

Visiting Chennai for the international balloon festival. Starting from Bangalore either on Friday 10th Jan or Saturday 11th Jan. Location of the festival is South of Kovalam Beach - https://maps.app.goo.gl/RVRq2ukCDccrcGYr9
I have never done the bangalore-chennai. Gmaps is suggesting KRishnagiri-vellore route. But a friend suggested Krishnagiri-Tiruvannamali route. Which of these is better? Thanks in advance

[SourPai]

Originally Posted by NPV

Did you mean Hoskote STRR interchange ?

Yes my bad. I meant Hoskote STRR interchange and not hosur

[NPV]

Originally Posted by SourPai

Yes my bad. I meant Hoskote STRR interchange and not hosur

I know for a fact that one can’t enter the expressway from the entry ramp in the Kolar direction because on ascending the ramp, one will find that the main carriageway is blocked off with sand (top of the bridge going across NH 4/old madras road). This also means if one is taking the STRR from Dabaspete or Devanahalli side, they cannot proceed to the expressway side and will need to take either one of the down ramps - towards Kolar or Bangalore.

Now, this leaves the other entry ramp on the Kolar-Bangalore side (Kolathur village). This ramp isn’t (at least till last week) asphalted yet. However, if one does take it, further ahead the main carriageway of the expressway was barricaded with concrete median blocks till about a month ago. When the news was published about the expressway being opened for traffic was, I thought these median blocks were removed, so that’s a possibility (I’m not sure though, just my speculation/assumption).

This is a pic taken a few months ago when the median blocks were in place (2 wheelers and cyclists could sneak in back then).

[ravib]

Originally Posted by hsprabhu

Visiting Chennai for the international balloon festival. Starting from Bangalore either on Friday 10th Jan or Saturday 11th Jan. Location of the festival is South of Kovalam Beach - https://maps.app.goo.gl/RVRq2ukCDccrcGYr9
I have never done the bangalore-chennai. Gmaps is suggesting KRishnagiri-vellore route. But a friend suggested Krishnagiri-Tiruvannamali route. Which of these is better? Thanks in advance

This thread is for Bangalore-Chennai Expressway which is not yet fully operational, so you should refer to Bangalore-Chennai-Bangalore thread for recent posts.
To answer your question anyway, given the current bad road conditions you can try out Tiruvannamalai route this time though it is slower/longer.

Originally Posted by NPV

I know for a fact that one can’t enter the expressway from the entry ramp in the Kolar direction because on ascending the ramp, one will find that the main carriageway is blocked off with sand (top of the bridge going across NH 4/old madras road). This also means if one is taking the STRR from Dabaspete or Devanahalli side, they cannot proceed to the expressway side and will need to take either one of the down ramps - towards Kolar or Bangalore.

Now, this leaves the other entry ramp on the Kolar-Bangalore side (Kolathur village). This ramp isn’t (at least till last week) asphalted yet. However, if one does take it, further ahead the main carriageway of the expressway was barricaded with concrete median blocks till about a month ago.

It is still not asphalted as of yesterday and the recently one of the bhpian did mention about the closure of BCE , probably due to accidents and no further connection beyond KA.

-Ravi

[SourPai]

Yes, I saw the entry ramp on the Kolar-Bangalore side. It was not asphalted yet, but it was leading to expressway without any barricades today. However entry on this ramp was not clear from the main road and I left it at that

From STRR end, I saw some bikers crossing the roads and lanes far away. Then I thought it is better to avoid it since if some bikers cross me as well at 100 - 120 kph, it may lead to a possible disaster. I guess we should wait till it is opened officially