Work on the second stage of the 1.7km long Kohat road tunnel in Pakistan is set to go ahead following the Japanese Government’s proposal of a US$34M loan, the agreement of which is due to be signed soon. Plans involve tunnelling a second drive to widen the tunnel from the single-lane carriageway to dual two-lane standard. Japan’s Taisei Corporation is currently building the first stage of the tunnel, seen as a vital link in the Indus Highway which is a major trunk road in Pakistan. It is not known at this stage whether the firm’s contract will be extended to cover the second drive or whether Britain’s Mouchel Consulting group will invite new tenders. Mouchel designed both drives and it is supervising construction of the first stage.
