President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has attended a ceremony to open five tunnels built in Baku as part of the “Victory Square” project of a multi-level tunnel-type road junction.
Numerous crossovers, bridges, tunnels, underground and above-ground pedestrian crossings and roads meeting international standards have been built in the capital and elsewhere in the republic in recent years. All of this work is carried out in accordance with the "State Program on the renewal and development of the road network in Azerbaijan for 2006-2015". As a logical result of the consistent work carried out within this framework, various facilities of the road transport infrastructure have been put into operation. The construction of such modern buildings continues today.
According to a decree of President Ilham Aliyev, work is well under way on improving motor traffic and the road infrastructure of Baku. In accordance with the instruction of the head of state, a project has been completed on regulating traffic, eliminating traffic congestion and ensuring the movement of vehicles without traffic lights on a territory called "Victory Square" and adjoining roads. Five tunnels built under the "Victory Square" project of a multi-level tunnel-type road junction have already been completed. A sixth tunnel had been commissioned in December 2012. The contractor of the project is OJSC "Industrial, Construction and Investment Corporation Akkord". The consultant and supervisor of the road junction designed by Singaporean company Surbana International Consultants is Turkish Pro Yapı Proje İnşaat.
Transport Minister Ziya Mammadov informed the President about the project. It was noted that additional measures on the reconstruction of the road transport infrastructure of Baku were being successfully implemented. Also completely remodeled has been the road junction on an area called "Galaba-Ganjlik".
President Ilham Aliyev watched a film about the project implementation.
Then the President reviewed a miniature plan showing the direction of the tunnels built. It was noted that according to the project six tunnel-type road junctions 2,512 meters long, 8-15.5 meters wide and 5.5 meters high had been built. The tunnels have 16 entries and exits and five lanes.
The President of Azerbaijan was informed about the technical parameters of the project. The tunnel-type road junctions connect Ataturk and Vagif Avenues, as well as Ataturk and Tabriz Avenues, through Ahmad Bay Agaoglu Street. In addition, the vehicles driving along Tabriz Street can directly access Darnagul Highway through the tunnel without entering the "Ganjlik" roundabout. It is also possible to access Fatali Khan Khoysky Avenue much faster and easier now.
The vehicles driving from Vagif Avenue, after passing under Fatali Khan Khoysky Avenue, will reach Ataturk Avenue and drive over Hasan Aliyev Avenue.
President Ilham Aliyev reviewed the tunnels. The total area of the roads built under the project is 110,000 square meters.
The intensity of traffic in and around "Victory Square" will increase from 2,340 to 11,000 vehicles per hour. The road junction built in Vagif Avenue passes over the tunnel of the "Ganjlik" underground station. The tunnels have been designed in accordance with international standards and have a 9-point seismic stability. The internal lighting system of the tunnel operates on semiconductor diodes. It is the most sophisticated lighting system which has established itself worldwide as being of good quality, efficient, safe and durable. On the side walls and ceilings of the tunnels there are 9,000 computer-controlled LED-lamps. A total of 3,000 ceiling-mounted spotlights work in day, night and emergency modes.
There are 2,400 guiding lights on the lanes. To reduce the level of noise, about 20,000 panels have been mounted on the walls. Security is monitored by more than 60 surveillance cameras. In addition, the electronic display controlled from the Intelligent Transport Management Center will inform drivers about the current traffic conditions. The construction of two out of 10 pedestrian crossings to be built in accordance with the project is nearing completion. Each pedestrian crossing will have two escalators and a platform for the disabled. National ornaments have been used in facing the interior of the crossings. The project also envisages the construction of two more exits of the "Ganjlik" underground station. Initially, an exit from the "Ganjlik" underground station was moved towards Ataturk Avenue in the center of "Victory Square". After the completion of construction work, including pedestrian crossings, a local park will be reconstructed and provided for people’s disposal.
After praising the work done, President Ilham Aliyev said:
- A great job has been done over three years. The urban infrastructure is being renewed – roads, bridges, tunnels, etc. In recent years, dozens of bridges, crossings and tunnels have been built in Baku and perhaps hundreds of them elsewhere in the country. Everything must be done for the comfort of people, for the citizens of Azerbaijan.
But there is still much to do in the future. Much remains to be done in the field of renovation and reconstruction of the road infrastructure in Baku. But quite a lot has already been done as well. People quickly get used to these innovations.
Now, when comparing this situation to that of five or seven years ago, we can see that as the difference is incomparable.
The airport road, bridges, interchanges and tunnels are built everywhere. Large transport infrastructure is created not only in the center, but everywhere else in the city. A major junction is under construction in the direction of Ziya Bunyadov Avenue. Here too, around the "Ganjlik" underground station, there were two roads going in two directions before. These roads, being part of this new road junction, are still functioning. All of the buildings have been renovated and landscaped.
This square looks completely different now. The football stadium has also been overhauled. Other infrastructure is under construction here as well. So it will be one of the most beautiful squares in Baku.
