170 Km Of Freeways By March 2015

Tehran, Oct 8, IRNA - Iran will open 170 kilometers of freeways by March 2015, a deputy roads and urban development minister said. Ali Nourzad, who is also the director for construction and development of transportation infrastructure, added that about 95 km of freeway were constructed last year, noting that Iran built 96 kilometers of freeway from 2005 to 2012. Qom-Mashhad Freeway with a length of 152 km, Isfahan Western Bypass Freeway with a length of 14 km and the remaining part of Hemmat-Karaj Freeway with a length of 4.5 kilometers are scheduled to become operational by March 2015. “Iran has about 2,160 km of freeways, the construction of which cost $5.3 billion,” he said. “Currently, 711 km of freeways are under construction, which require $2.6 billion for completion.” The official noted that investment in freeway projects is highly beneficial, as Iran has a special geographical situation and many tourist attractions, stressing that the ministry is ready to cooperate with private sector investors. Nourzad also said Sirjan-Bandar Abbas Freeway, Shiraz-Bushehr Freeway, Tabriz-Marand-Bazargan Freeway and Salafchegan-Arak Freeway with a length of 300, 230, 250 and 146 kilometers respectively await private sector investments./end