OREANDA-NEWS. October 2, 2009. Mayor Yuri Luzhkov gave a start to the driving of the Alabyano-Baltiysky Tunnel near Sokol subway station which is to be dug under the green line of the Moscow Metro.

“This development is similar to a neurosurgical operation as the tunnel is being dug under two operating metro lines. The work goes on, the digging under the railway lines is to be completed by the end of 2009,” the mayor said.

Mr Luzhkov added that the Alabyano-Baltiysky Tunnel was to be prolonged to Bolshaya Akademicheskaya Street in 2010.

According to the official, when it is done, the usability of the tunnel will be doubled as it will ease the traffic on Alabyana and Baltiyskaya streets and link Alabyana and Bolshaya Akademicheskaya streets. It will become an essential element of the fourth ring road in Moscow.

The 2,150-metre tunnel to be dug to a depth of 20 metres will be completely done by late 2010.

The underground highway with 3 lanes in both directions is expected to make the traffic on Leningradskoe Highway less busy by 20 per cent.

The project is implemented by LLC Scientific Production Association Kosmos.