November 16, 2007 - 16:48 AMT
Opening ceremony of Northern Avenue took place in Yerevan
The solemn opening ceremony of the Northern Avenue took place in Yerevan today.

The Northern Avenue has come as Armenia's second visit card after Republic Square, Armenian President Robert Kocharian said during the ceremony. "The construction area ensuring 20 per cent of the GDP has become the major factor of economic development. Dozens of thousands of people were and will be employed," the President said.

Northern Avenue - part of architect Alexander Tamanian's original plan for Yerevan - will connect Opera Square and Republic Square. Northern Avenue will be the sixth artery flowing into the city's central Republic Square. The project upon completion is a 24-meter (72-foot) wide pedestrian mall lined with multiple-storey buildings, each with retail, commercial and residential.