The 16km Chattogram Elevated Expressway, the city's first-ever elevated expressway, is set to partially open for traffic by December this year in conjunction with the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Tunnel.
A total of 72 per cent construction work of the elevated expressway, the second largest elevated expressway in the country, has already been completed, Project Director and Chattogram Development Authority (CDA) Executive Engineer Mahfuzur Rahman told BSS.
He said the construction work on the remaining part of the expressway will continue after opening its 10km section by December, which will link Patenga and Nimtola and is expected to improve traffic movement through the Bangabandhu tunnel.
Terming some changes to the design of the elevated expressway, Mahfuzur Rahman said it will now connect with the Akhtaruzzaman Flyover in Lalkhan Bazar, eliminating the need to come down to the road to reach the flyover or the expressway.
Approved in 2017, the expressway was initially slated for completion in 2022, but the implementing agency, CDA, has requested a deadline extension until 2024 and a cost increase of more than Tk 1,200 crore, both of which have been approved by the authorities concerned, he added.
Explaining the delay in the construction work, Mahfuzur said they have redesigned the project to prioritise the security of the country's prime seaport.
The authorities have taken plans to open a portion of the elevated expressway soon, which will alleviate traffic congestion in the city, he added.
"The remaining construction work of the four-lane elevated expressway from the city's Lalkhan Bazar to Shah Amanat International Airport in Patenga, which is a Tk 4,298 crore mega project, is going on in full swing aimed to decongest Chattogram city," he said, adding that the construction work of the expressway will be completed by June 2024.
Mahfuzur said the project area is divided into four parts to facilitate construction work that includes Patenga to Cement Crossing Junction, Cement Crossing to Saltgola, Saltgola to Barik Building Junction and Barik Building Junction to Dewanhat.
Among those, the work of two parts from Patenga to Saltgola nears completion while piling has also been completed from Dewanhat to Lalkhan Bazar, he said, adding, "Slab laying work has also been going on full swing at Patenga section to improve traffic flow through the Bangabandhu tunnel."
