The Capital Development Authority (CDA) has started construction work on loops of much awaited zero-point interchange, while the underpass at Faisal flyover has also been opened for traffic. Over Rs 2 billion project, would be completed in two phase in two years.
The construction firm, Maqbool Associates has started excavation work as well as removing trees from the planned loops' sites. "The concept plan of the two-phase project to be completed in two years has formally been approved by CDA Working Development Party (CDAWDP)," a CDA official said here on Thursday.
The new design of the interchange in shape of cloverleaves includes four loops and four ramps (an inclined surface or roadway that moves traffic from one level to another) with a length of 10 kilometers, he said.
The interchange will be free signal free, allowing smooth flow of traffic coming from four directions. The consultants would be responsible to carry out other modalities of the project including contingency charges besides monitoring the project till its completion, the official said. He said the Authority and Islamabad Traffic Police (ITP) has already finalised traffic diversion plan to avoid hassle during execution of the project and hoped that the commuters would experience no major annoyance.
As per the plan, traffic from Rawalpindi and Islamabad highway to the capital city would be diverted on Garden Avenue from sectors I-8, H-8 signal while 9th Avenue would cater the traffic entering the Capital from the IJ Principal Road. According to a survey, about 25,000 vehicles cross Zero Point per hour from four directions, the interchange experienced severe traffic congestion at the peak hours for the last many years as an estimated number of 1,15,000 vehicles made way to and out of the capital.