9th Avenue to be ready next month
By Adnan Rafique

ISLAMABAD—The Capital Development Authority (CDA) is all set to open 9th Avenue for traffic in the first week of January, while two out of three underpasses on the road have already been opened, a CDA official said here Friday.
He said the carpeting of 7.5 km long 9th Avenue is in final stage as the contractor has almost completed laying of rigid lanes on both sides of the road.
The official said out of three planned underpasses on the road, one between G-8 and G-9 and other between H-8 and H-9 have been opened for traffic while the third one between sectors I-8 and I-9 would also be opened soon.
He said the project was to complete this month but due to relocation of G-9 weekly bazaar and recent rains it was delayed for a few days.
He said after removal of stalls from G-9 weekly bazaar the contractor has accelerated work on remaining part of 9th Avenue.
"Work on 9th Avenue is in full swing now as, installation of street lights on a portion of the avenue between I-8 and H-8 has almost been completed."
The landscaping work on both sides of the avenue has also been started and a large number of pine trees and other environment friendly saplings have been planted on both sides of the road, he added.
The official said the project would ease traffic flow on Islamabad Highway from Zero Point to Faizabad especially during the peak hours as most of the commuters use this route for reaching their destinations.
He said the 9th Avenue would also help as an alternate route for the commuters of twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi during the construction work on Zero Point Interchange likely to start next month.
He said after completion of the first phase of 9th Avenue, the Authority has planned to construct an interchange on Kashmir Highway and a flyover on IJ Principal Road respectively in the second phase.
Two more flyovers would also be constructed on 9th Avenue at Ibn-e-Sina Road and Jinnah Avenue, he said adding CDA has also planned to install pedestrian bridges on the road.