Underpasses, flyovers to be built at Capital five busiest junctions
KATHMANDU, DEC 12 -
In a bid to address the capital’s traffic problems, the government is preparing to construct underpasses or flyovers at the city’s five busiest junctions. Kalimati, Tripureshwor, Thapathali, New Baneshwor and Old Baneshwor have been selected for this project.
The Department of Roads has recently completed a preliminary configuration design for grade separation of the selected intersections. Grade separation is a method that is used to improve traffic flow at intersections and junctions by constructing tunnels, ramps, underpass roads or flyovers.
According to department officials, construction of the underpasses or flyovers of two to four lanes will be completed in three to five years. The amount of resources that will be required will be known only after the government finalises the design and prepares a detailed project report (DPR).
“Our consultant has suggested three to five options for each junction based on the location and traffic flow,” said Naresh Man Shakya, senior divisional engineer at the department. He added that they would consult all the stakeholders including the concerned ministries, traffic police, Kathmandu Metropolitan City, security agencies and transport entrepreneurs within two weeks to pick out the best option for the DPR.
The department had assigned the job of preparing the preliminary designs of grade separated intersections and the DPR to a consulting firm Salt Test in a joint venture with Abhiyan Consulting for Rs 11.7 million. The consultant has set a target to complete the DPR by the end of the current fiscal year.
The five junctions were selected to help reduce traffic congestion and make it easier for vehicles to reach the airport from Kalanki. The government is working on widening the Maitighar-Tinkune stretch to eight lanes from four lanes, and a plan for the New Baneshwor intersection envisages building a 17-m wide, four-lane ramped flyover to separate critical lanes with a high traffic volume on the Araniko Highway.
Under this option, traffic on the service roads and the road from Shankhamul to Old Baneshwor will be managed by traffic signals.
Shakya said that the best option for each location would be finalised after consultations with stakeholders based mainly one the response from the public, the resources required and the availability of space. “Our focus will be on making the junctions congestion-free for the next 10-20 years by improving the existing infrastructure,” he added.
The options that have been presented have been based on congestion sources and video graphic study of daily traffic movement of all types of traffic including pedestrians crossing the junctions, according to the department. The department is considering providing a separate lane for bikes at the junctions to be improved and also make these junctions disabled-friendly.
Shakya said that since construction of grade intersections was a high priority plan, the department would start implementation from next year. He added that some Chinese firms had shown interest in bringing investment and carrying out the project before the government fixes the financing mechanism.
Source: Kantipur
