Work on a Dh267.5 million roads project will begin on an 80 kilometre two-lane highway that links Abu Dhabi’s third largest city with the Western Region, the Department of Transport (DoT) said.
According to a DoT announcement on Sunday, the work on the multi-million dirham project will be completed within 20 months. It is expected to be completed somewhere towards the end of next year or beginning of 2015.
“The expansion of the road linking Ghiyathi (in the Western Region) with Madinat Zayed highlights the vision of our wise leadership towards the development of the Western Region by building world-class infrastructure projects that promote the social and economic development of the region whilst meeting the needs of both nationals and expatriate residents of high quality, safe and secure services and facilities,” said the department’s Main Roads Division General Director Faisal Ahmed Al Suwaidi.
The expansion of the road along with other infrastructure projects in the Western Region was approved by the Executive Council during a recent meeting chaired by General Shaikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, in his capacity as the Chairman of the Council.
The project will include four camel under-crossings, axing the old chain-link fence, building a new sand fence in sand-windy areas, fitting the existing two middle roundabouts, U-turn openings with solar lighting, and building a five-metre wide median to separate the two carriage ways. The project also encompasses five U-turns openings for commuters to easily change direction, in addition to the two existing roundabouts.
“This project offers a wide spectrum of benefits to the Western Region people as well as motorists, such as higher degree of security and safety, larger motor capacity and better time as the new road will be 80 kilometres shorter than the alternative road. Besides, this vital expansion project will ensure a better and more integrated service line,” Al Suwaidi added.
The existing Ghiyathi-Madinat Zayed Road was inaugurated in 2010. In addition to the road linking the two cities, the project then encompassed a 3.5 kilometre link connecting the new main road with Baynunah Road in Madinat Zayed, as well as three roundabouts connecting intersections.
The road originally has seen the construction of 11 service projection lines for gas, oil and water, setting up traffic signals, reflectors and fences on both sides.
