Thrissur: The traffic bottleneck along the vital Thrissur–Ernakulam stretch of NH 544 resurfaced on Monday, with the Muringoor and Chalakudy areas once again witnessing severe congestion. On Friday, vehicles had been stuck on this same route for nearly 18 hours.

To regulate traffic, additional police personnel have been deployed in Amballur and Chalakudy. All vehicles, except heavy ones, are being rerouted through smaller roads. Light vehicles are now being directed to the signal in front of the Airport Junction by diverting them just before the Muringoor bridge via Kadukutty to Athani. Heavy vehicles, meanwhile, are being allowed to pass only via the Muringoor bridge.

Police personnel have also been posted ahead of the Chalakudy–Potta bridge. Vehicles heading to Ernakulam are now being guided to take the Ashtamichira–Mala route to ease congestion.

From Friday night, NH 544 experienced a 12-kilometre-long traffic jam in the Thrissur–Ernakulam direction, which lasted for around 18 hours. While underpass construction continues at Muringoor and Chirangara, the alternative roads opened in the area have become nearly unusable. Deep potholes and poor road conditions made passage difficult for vehicles, further worsening the traffic situation.

The initial block was triggered when a lorry loaded with wooden logs overturned after hitting a pothole. Although the vehicle was removed quickly, the resulting traffic jam continued for hours.

Meanwhile, the traffic situation remains difficult on NH 66 as well. Vehicles now take over an hour to cover the one-kilometre stretch between Kottappuram and Moothakunnam, which marks the inter-district border between Thrissur and Ernakulam. Long queues of vehicles heading both towards Ernakulam and Kodungallur, which began on Sunday night, persisted for several hours. Heavy rains and waterlogging, coupled with ongoing construction on NH 544, have further worsened the blockade.