The mega project worth $2.2 billion consists of four sections spanning 121 km.
Saeedikia was quoted as saying by Roads Ministry’s news portal that Section 1 of the project, spanning 32 kilometers from Tehran, has made 85% progress while work on Section 2 was officially launched last month.
“The 22-kilometer stretch is being constructed by four Iranian contractors. Section 1 will cut short the existing route to the Caspian resort by 60 kilometers. This part includes a 6,500-meter tunnel, the excavation of which was completed recently,” Financial Tribune quoted him as saying.
“Sections 2 and 3 pass through rugged mountainous terrain and will take longer to complete. The 20-km Section 4 was inaugurated in March 2014.”
Tehran-North Freeway is 20 years in the making. During his visit to the site on June 17, Saeedikia apologized for the inordinate delays, saying Phase 1 will be completed before the Iranian year is out in March 2018.