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Construction of Zero Point Interchange
CDA announces alternate traffic plan
Islamabad—The Capital Development Authority (CDA)
has announced alternate traffic plan for motorists during the
construction of Zero Point Interchange scheduled to start early
July.
“A comprehensive plan for alternate routes has been finalized. As
per international standards, all routes will be properly carpeted,
fences and well-marked, said CDA Chairman Kamran Lashari addressing
a news conference here Friday.
He said work on Rs2.27 billion-project would be initiated in July
after the Authority shortlists one of the five pre-qualified firms
and it would take two years to complete.
“In the first phase, the traffic would be diverted to slip roads
which would be completed within six-months. Meanwhile, the Authority
would also complete the dualization of Garden Avenue which at the
moment is in tendering phase,” Lashari said. He vowed the project,
which had been lingering for the last decade, would not be further
delayed as all formalities have been fulfilled. The contractor would
be given a deadline for each step which would help in completion of
the project within the stipulated time.
Lashari said the Authority has given deadline to contractors for the
completion of ongoing road projects so that smooth flow of traffic
could be ensured.
He said the Authority has already started widening of Islamabad
Highway into a five lane road while the widening of Kashmir Highway
would be started within a month or two. “The two rigid lanes would
be added to both the highways to avoid rutting in future due to
extraordinary heavy traffic load . Besides this, weigh stations
would also be set up on all three under construction electronic toll
plazas,” said the CDA Chairman.
Major (Retd) Fazal Karim, a consultant of CDA-hired consultant firm
ECIL said the contractor would execute the project in three stages
and alternate routes would be opened accordingly.
He said to make traffic diversion plan smooth and workable,we have
consulted Islamabad Traffic Police.
“Traffic signals, signboards and digital screens displaying
alternate routes and diversions would be installed shortly on all
main routes of the federal capital,” he said.
He said besides the newly planned diversions, the motorists would
also be urged to use existing alternate roads to avoid congestion at
the project site. SSP Islamabad Traffic Police told media that Zero
Point Interchange would be made signal-free within a week and hoped
it would also work during the construction of the project.
He said ITP has already banned the movement of heavy traffic toward
the central city via 9th Avenue, adding it would also try its best
to ensure minimum traffic choking on Zero Point for minimum
inconvenience to the motorists.—APP
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