NOSHAHR, Mazandaran Province -- $85 million has been earmarked this year to expedite the implementation of the Tehran-North Highway project.

Announcing this, an MP from Noshahr and Chaloos (Mazandaran Province) Anoushirvan Mohseni told IRNA here on Friday that the project had over the past five years shown a mere five percent physical progress.

He said that a contract had recently been signed with a Chinese contractor, that is to start work on the project as of August.

Once the first phase of the project goes on stream, said the lawmaker, the distance between Tehran and Shahrestanak -- a district in vicinity of Tehran -- would be reduced to 32 kms from 65 km and the time required to traverse the distance would be cut to an hour.

The lawmaker said that the main operations of the Tehran-North Highway are expected to be complete in the next three years.