The flyover being constructed in Balambu of Kathmandu is nearing completion.
Senior Divisional Engineer Sanjay Panthi, who is the project’s deputy director, said that the flyover construction at Kisipidi in Balambu is in its final stage. The flyover connects the Balambu-Sisnekhola tunnel to the Tribhuvan Highway.
The blacktopping work on the flyover has already been completed, and only tasks such as installing railings and removing formwork remain, according to Panthi.
The contract for the flyover and tunnel was awarded to the Japanese company Hazama Ando JV, which is required to complete the construction by October.
The flyover is being built to prevent potential traffic congestion when vehicles turn toward the tunnel from the highway.
Once complete, the flyover will be 128 meters long and 7 meters wide.
Vehicles can access the 2,667-meter-long Balambu-Sisnekhola tunnel through the flyover.
Since the flyover was constructed specifically for the tunnel, the tunnel's construction work must also be completed before it comes into operation.
Panthi said that about 8-9 percent of the tunnel work is left.
“The project will be operational only after all the work is completed and approved. Though the flyover work is nearly finished, the project will be complete only after the tunnel work is over,” he said.
Work related to landslide prevention in the tunnel and casting of 400-500 meters of the tunnel's emergency exit are still pending. Testing work was stalled some time ago as electricity had not been installed.
Panthi said that electricity has now been installed and only testing remains to be conducted.
