The Long-Awaited Tehran-North Freeway: September Opening Finally in Sight!

After nearly five decades of construction, the Tehran-North Freeway is inching closer to reality—but patience remains the watchword for Iranian motorists.

🎯 What’s Actually Opening in September?

Hold onto your steering wheels, folks! The head of the Mostazafan Foundation has announced that the eastbound lane (going from Tehran to the north) of Phase 2 will open in the second half of September. This isn’t the entire freeway—just one direction of one section—but it’s progress after years of delays. Here’s what you need to know: Phase 2 spans approximately 22 kilometres from Do-ab Shahrestak to Zangoole Bridge, and when complete, it will feature some seriously impressive engineering. We’re talking about 6,400-metre tunnels through the Alborz Mountains—amongst the longest road tunnels in the country.

🔢 The Numbers Game: What’s Been Built So Far

The Tehran-North Freeway is a 121-kilometre monster project divided into four sections that’s been under construction since the mid-1990s. Here’s where things stand: ✅ Section 1: 32 kilometres from Tehran to Shahrestak—opened in March 2020 🚧 Section 2: 22 kilometres—southbound lane opened in 2023, northbound opening September 2025 ❌ Section 3: 52 kilometres—the most complex bit, still facing delays ✅ Section 4: 20 kilometres from Marzanabad to Chalous—already operational

👷‍♂️ The Workforce Behind the Scenes

Approximately 2,500 to 3,000 people are currently working on the freeway construction. That’s a small army of engineers, construction workers, and specialists battling mountain terrain, environmental concerns, and bureaucratic hurdles to make this project happen.

🌲 The Environmental Headache

Here’s where things get sticky. Section 3 is facing significant delays due to environmental considerations. The project cuts through protected areas, and environmental protection measures require the project to proceed whilst respecting ecological considerations to avoid damaging the regional ecosystem, including protection of forests and wildlife habitats. The contractors for Section 3 have been selected and were meant to begin work at the start of 2025, but problems persist that need to be resolved. It’s a classic case of environmental protection versus infrastructure development—and right now, the trees are winning.

💰 The Financial Reality Check

Section 3 is described as the most complex section from both technical and implementation perspectives, and it’s a joint project between the government and Mostazafan Foundation with a 50-50 investment split. Translation: this isn’t cheap, and it’s taking forever. The project has also seen its share of international drama. Chinese contractors were involved early on but later withdrew due to financial disputes and delays, leaving Iranian companies to pick up the pieces.

🎯 The Bottom Line: When Will It Actually Be Done?

Officials promise complete operation of the entire route will be achieved in less than five years. Given this project’s history of optimistic timelines, take that with a hefty pinch of salt. What we know for certain: 🗓️ September 2025: Eastbound lane of Section 2 opens 🗓️ End of 2025: The remaining 6.5 kilometres of Section 2, including tunnels, should be complete by the end of 2026 🗓️ 2030-ish: If environmental hurdles are cleared, the entire freeway might finally be complete

🚗 What This Means for Drivers

This project, in addition to reducing travel time and increasing safety, will provide special tourism and recreational capacity for the northern route of the country. When fully operational, it should significantly ease the notorious traffic on the Karaj-Chalous route, especially during peak holiday periods. But let’s be realistic: we’ve been hearing promises about this freeway for decades. The September opening will be a genuine milestone—if it actually happens. Until then, pack your patience along with your picnic for those weekend trips to the Caspian Sea! Stay tuned for updates, and here’s hoping the September deadline actually sticks this time. 🤞