Faisal avenue underpass to be opened next week

The Capital Development Authority (CDA) is all set to inaugurate much-delayed Faisal avenue underpass next week as the work is in final phase, said a senior CDA official here on Friday. He said carpeting of the road has already been started and the underpass is likely to be opened even before Eid, ending the delay of months as the project was about to complete early this year.
He said carpeting could not be started as some incidents including suicide attack at Marriott Hotel hampered movement of machinery required for carpeting, but vowed that the project would be completed by the end of this month. He said the work on the project was also affected during last four days as movement of dumpers was restricted in the federal capital. The CDA is 10 days behind the deadline of the completion of the project as the underpass was to be opened by September 20.
The Authority has already started installation of streetlights on the double road of the underpass that would take about a week to complete. The official said the main reason behind unnecessary delay was the controversy between the Authority and Islamabad Traffic Police for over of intersection Citibank situated near the downtown of the city.
He said in this phase, the contractor would open underpass to traffic while rest part of the project consisting flyover, slip roads and roundabout would be completed by December.
He further said the contractor is facing hurdle in installing the precast structure of the flyover as traffic police fears traffic mess on the intersection. However, he said the installation of a single precast slab would take three hours, adding that the contractor would have to manage it keeping in view the traffic rush during the peak hours.
The official said an amount of Rs 15 million would be spent for the beautification of underpass that would take another three months. The beautification plan would envisage the beautiful and historical buildings of the federal capital. Citizens are afraid of traffic mess at the intersection if the project is not completed before the Zero Point Interchange project reaches at the stage when traffic would be diverted to alternate routes.