Tehran-North Freeway Phase Two

The first phase of the Tehran-North freeway is set to open soon after several years of delays, and the controversial second phase of this freeway has also begun. But when will the story of this tumultuous project finally come to an end? Seyyed Hamid Taghavi, the governor of Alborz, announced the start of construction for the second section of the Tehran-North freeway, stating: "The high volume of traffic has burdened Alborz for years, but today we are witnessing the completion of the Tehran-North freeway route, which can significantly alleviate the traffic burden in Alborz." Taghavi pointed to the increased traffic volume during holiday weekends and highlighted the advantages of opening the second section of the Tehran-North freeway, saying: "The second section of this freeway, between Shahrak and Pol Zanguleh, is approximately 22 kilometers long, and the long Alborz tunnels, each 6,400 meters long, are located in this area. With the implementation of this section, the length of the current Karaj-Chalus road will be shortened by about five kilometers." The second section of the Tehran-North freeway and the eastern tunnel in this area, named "Alborz," currently has 47% physical progress and the contractor for the western tunnel in this area is expected to start work soon. It is projected that over 18 trillion rials will be spent on preparing and completing the second section of the Tehran-North freeway. Currently, the first phase of the Tehran-North freeway has been completed and is set to launch soon. The first section of the Tehran-North freeway, 32 kilometers long, starts from the intersection of the Azadegan and Shahid Hemmat highways and passes through the regions of Kon, Solqan, and Imamzadeh Aqil, reaching the Shahrak intersection. ISNA has reported that with the construction of sections two and three, this freeway is expected to be fully operational by 2020. The third section of the Tehran-North freeway, between Pol Zanguleh and the Dast Nazir intersection, is approximately 46 kilometers long, featuring two lanes in each direction. Recently, the Tehran-North freeway company reached an agreement with a South Korean company for a $1.3 billion investment in this section. The fourth section of the Tehran-North freeway, between the Dast Nazir intersection and Chalus, is about 20 kilometers long and has two lanes in each direction, with an additional slow lane in its higher sections that went into traffic in summer 2015. However, the early launch of some sections of the Tehran-North freeway faced criticism in the past. In March 2013, government officials stated that "the fourth section was temporarily opened for holiday travelers," and they opened the final 20 kilometers of the Tehran-North freeway without lighting and standard asphalt for traffic. Its inauguration was conducted by Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in late April 2014. Despite twenty years having passed since the construction of the Tehran-North freeway began, the project's execution plans continue to change. Changes in construction companies and the entry of various investors and contractors at different times indicate a lack of planning in executing this project. One positive change in the construction of the Tehran-North freeway was the definition of a new (fifth) section for this freeway. In September 2015, Abbas Akhoundi, the Minister of Roads and Urban Development, announced the division of the freeway into five sections, stating: "Previously, the Tehran-North freeway had four sections, and a fifth section has recently been defined. Upon completion of the freeway in the fourth section, traffic would be transferred into the city of Chalus, but with the definition of section five, the continuation of the freeway will connect to the highway network east and west of the Caspian Sea."