Work on Peshawar Road underpasses in Rawalpindi to begin today

RAWALPINDI: Work officially began today on two major underpasses at Race Course Park and Charing Cross on Peshawar Road, with a combined estimated cost of Rs8 billion.

The projects, being executed by the Frontier Works Organisation (FWO), are part of the Punjab government’s plan to develop a 25-kilometre signal-free corridor from Islamabad Expressway to Motorway Chowk.

To ensure traffic continues to flow during construction, alternate service roads have already been completed, and traffic is now being diverted onto these routes while work on the main projects gets underway.

The original plan included three underpasses at Race Course Park, Army Graveyard and Charing Cross. However, the plan was revised, and underpasses will now be constructed only at Race Course Park and Charing Cross, while the Army Graveyard area will receive an at-grade road.

According to officials, the shifting of utilities—including electricity pylons, water supply lines, telephone networks and cable infrastructure—has already been completed. Service roads have also been developed along key sections of Peshawar Road to accommodate traffic during construction.

The two underpasses are expected to be completed within the next two to three months and are part of a broader effort to make the route signal-free. Once completed, the corridor is expected to reduce travel time between Islamabad Expressway and Motorway Chowk to approximately 15 to 20 minutes.

Officials say there is a dire need for these underpasses to establish a signal-free corridor towards Motorway Chowk, allowing commuters to travel along the city’s main road with fewer stops and interruptions.