Dubai Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) announced today (Tuesday, March 07, 2006), that the AED 82.5 million Sheikh Zayed Road expansion project will be completed by July 2006. This project is in line with the authority’s policy aiming at easing the traffic congestion in Dubai by providing effective and innovative solutions.
The road expansion work which commenced in July 2005 includes adding to the existing three lanes on both sides of the road, two 8 kilometer lanes along the stretch from Dubai World Trade Centre roundabout to the third interchange - “Al Manara Interchange on Sheikh Zayed Road”.
“In light of the rapid growth and prosperity that the UAE and particularly Dubai is witnessing, it is essential to continuously take concrete steps towards upgrading road infrastructure. We are currently working on broadening the road near the Dubai World Trade Centre tunnel area by altering the road course and narrowing the width of the lanes to accommodate additional lanes. On the other hand, expansion work is being undertaken in the open areas by addition of lanes on either sides of the road. We are currently setting up tunnel walls leading to “Umm Hurrair” area and “Al Maktoum Bridge” to add ready-made tiles on the tunnel ceiling. We are also building an additional road above this tunnel with two lanes leading towards “Al Garhoud” area,” said Maitha Bin Adi, Director of Roads Department at the Roads and Transport Authority.
“We are currently working on diverting the underground services corridor and some of the 11 and 13 Kilovolt electric cables that might be affected by the roadworks in the area between the 1st Interchange and the Dubai World Trade Centre roundabout. We are also working on constructing a drainage system and beautifying the roadside greenery, in addition to installing a mechanical watering system uptill the 3rd interchange on Sheikh Zayed Road. As part of the project, we are installing fences in the median throughout the 8 kilometer road dividers stretching from Al Garhoud Bridge to the 6th interchange on Sheikh Zayed Road. This process will be completed by the end of April 2006,” added Bin Adi.
Since its inception, the Roads and Transport Authority has been aiming at easing the traffic congestion in the UAE through providing effective and innovative solutions. The authority is committed to developing strategies to combat the twin menace of aggressive driving and lack of safety awareness.
