ISLAMABAD: National Highway Authority (NHA) Chairman Shahid Ashraf Tarar on Friday visited the construction site of Karachi-Hyderabad Motorway (M-9) to review progress of work and various road safety measures along the temporary diversions. According to a statement, the project staff briefed the chairman on status of the progress on the various sections and safety measures adopted for the commuters. The NHA chairman, while expressing satisfaction over the overall progress, issued a number of instructions to the NHA staff concerned and the contractor, M/s SCORE (FWO), to ensure foolproof safety of the people travelling along the project area, especially the diversions. He said that the entire length of the project should be treated as ‘project area’ with proper installation of ‘work zone’ safety features. He said that road safety measures should be further improved with maximum traffic signs before, during and after the diversion, and added that diversion length should be kept between 2km and 3km. “Road safety expert should visit the entire project area and carry out safety audit to ensure safe and smooth flow of traffic,” he said. The NHA chairman also directed the staff concerned to ensure safe and smooth transition for traffic from main carriageway to every diversion. He said that loose material on diversions should be compacted and regularly sprinkled with water. He also called for increased patrolling by the National Highway and Motorway Police (NH&MP) along the M-9. The NHA chairman also gave a timeframe of two weeks to the project staff and M/s SCORE (FWO) for compliance with the instructions.