ISLAMABAD: In order to resolve the longstanding issue of traffic gridlocks in the middle of the city, the civic agency is all set to start construction of an interchange at the junction of 7th Avenue and Srinagar Highway near Aabpara.

The CDA has received bids from two companies and a consortium of three other firms.

The civic agency opened technical bids of the companies and the process of evaluating them is under process. Officials said the financial bids will also be opened soon to award the contract.

“The longstanding issue of traffic gridlocks at the junction of 7th Avenue is going to be resolved. The interchange will provide a big relief to citizens who on a daily basis face traffic congestion at this particular point,” said CDA Chairman Amer Ali Ahmed.

Speaking to Dawn, he said the engineering wing will soon open the financial bids to award the contract.

“Not only this interchange, we are also going to start some other projects that include an interchange at 10th Avenue and overhauling of I.J.P. Road,” he said.

The interchange will be cloverleaf with four left and right loops at the junction of 7th Avenue, Srinagar Highway, Khayaban-i- Soharwardi and Garden Avenue. There will be an underpass to link both portions of Khayaban-i-Soharwardi, said the CDA officials.

The technical bids were submitted by Habib Construction Company, (which recently constructed G-7,G-8 interchange), National Logistics Cell (NLC) and the joint venture of Maaksons, Calson and Maqbool Associates.

The officials said once started, the project worth Rs1.5 billion will be completed in a year.

The 7th Avenue interchange project was conceived in 2008. Several times it was placed before CDA’s Development Working Party (DWP) for approval of PC-1 but every time it faced objections. However, in DWP meeting held in October last year the PC-1 was approved.

On the other hand, in the absence of an interchange at the 7th Avenue-Srinagar Highway junction, motorists on a daily basis face traffic congestion due to the prolonged traffic signals, particularly during rush hours.

The officials said currently F-9 signal on 9th Avenue and the junction on 7th Avenue were the points which witness massive traffic jams.

“Besides the 7th Avenue interchange, we are also planning to construct an interchange at F-9 signal area on 9th Avenue,” said an engineer of the CDA. He said the 9th Avenue interchange was in designing stage.

The official said currently construction of Rawal Dam Interchange, PWD Underpass and expansion of Korang bridge were underway.

Published in Dawn, February 20th, 2021