Mohali, Aug. 9 -- Three traffic infrastructure projects on Mohali's Airport Road, planned to ease congestion and improve road safety, are creating bottlenecks as construction delays, inadequate signage, poor pedestrian facilities and lack of traffic marshals leave motorists navigating confusing diversions. The projects include the dumbbell-shaped roundabout near Gurdwara Singh Shaheedan, Sohana, and junction improvements at the Sector 68/69/78/79 and Sector 67/68/79/80 crossings. GMADA had earlier targeted August for completion of the Sohana junction project, but officials have now indicated that the work will take more than another month. A ground check of Airport Road found motorists struggling to identify the correct routes at stretches where construction has altered the existing road layout. Signboards and lane markings are inadequate at several points, forcing drivers to make sudden lane changes or slow down while trying to understand diversions. "I am visiting Mohali for the first time and found the diversions very confusing. There is not enough signage to tell motorists where to go, and with the digging and construction material on the road, it does not feel safe. Someone unfamiliar with the area could easily take the wrong route or get stuck in the dug-up portion," said Malkeet a commuter. Construction material lying along the carriageway has further narrowed the usable road space. No traffic marshals were seen guiding motorists through the changing routes during the inspection. Vehicles trapped in the dug-up stretches at the ongoing construction sites at these chowks, add to motorists' difficulties. Such incidents highlight the risks posed by inadequate barricading and unclear diversions at the construction sites. The problem becomes more pronounced near Gurdwara Singh Shaheedan, where heavy pedestrian footfall adds to traffic pressure. According to residents and commuters, vehicles frequently move even when the traffic signal is red, causing traffic movement to build up instead of stopping at the junction. With pedestrians crossing the busy road to reachthe gurdwara, the absence of clear temporary crossingsand adequate traffic management increases the risk of a collision. Road safety expert Harpreet Singh said the work should be completed at the earliest and traffic management should not be overlooked during construction. "This is a heavy-traffic area and safety measures have to be in place throughout the construction period. The project should be completed at the earliest, while traffic marshals and proper signage must be deployed to guide motorists through diversions," he said. GMADA officials said safety measures would be taken at the construction sites and acknowledged that rainfall had affected the pace of work. "Rain has added to the delay, but we are trying to complete the project at the earliest. Necessary safety measures will be ensured at the construction sites," said an official, wishing not to be named. Rain has become an added problem. Waterlogging has been observed at construction stretches, while a pedestrian passage near Mohali Tower has become submerged. Green algae has accumulated on the water-covered path, making it difficult for pedestrians to use the facility and forcing some to take the road. The pedestrian crossing near Mohali Tower is also showing signs of deterioration even before the project has been completed, raising questions over the quality and maintenance of pedestrian infrastructure being created along the corridor. The Sohana project was planned to replace the existing junction arrangement with a dumbbell-shaped roundabout designed to slow vehiclesand improve pedestrian movement. A dedicated refuge island is also planned for pedestrians crossing towards the gurdwara. At the Sohana junction enforcement against signal violations and controlled pedestrian crossings will also be important because of the combination of heavy traffic and high pedestrian movement. The projects are intended to remove bottlenecks and make Airport Road safer. But until construction is completed and the new layouts are properly marked and managed, motorists and pedestrians continue to face risks on the busy corridor....