DUBAI, United Arab Emirate, June 23 (NNN-WAM) – Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, approved the improvement of Dubai-Al Ain Road at a cost of AED2 billion (USD545 million).
The upgrade project will enhance the road’s link with several highways, such as Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road, Sheikh Zayed bin Hamdan Al Nahyan Road and Emirates Road. It will also serve the existing and future development projects on both sides of the road.
The improvements will result in doubling the number of lanes from three to six lanes in each direction over a 17-km sector. Works also include upgrading six interchanges as well as constructing new bridges and service roads.
The project will boost traffic safety, enhance the road intake from 6,000 to 12,000 vehicles per hour, and cut transit time from Emirates Road interchange to Oud Metha Street from sixteen to eight minutes.
“The Roads and Transport Authority is undertaking this project in response to the directives of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, to meet the needs of urban development and demographic expansion and keep pace with the current upswing, as well as bring happiness to people.
It will serve several development projects on both sides of the Dubai-Al Ain Road, such as Meydan, Dubai Silicon Oasis, Dubailand Residential Complex, Liwan and Dubai Design District,” said Mattar Al Tayer, Director General and Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of Roads and Transport Authority (RTA).
“In view of the immense nature of the project and the need to complete it within the timeline set, the project has been split into two phases. Phase I, which costs around AED1.3 billion extends seven km from the interchange of Emirates Road to the interchange of the Mohammed bin Zayed Road.
Phase II, which costs about AED748 million extends 10 km from the interchange of the Mohammed bin Zayed Road up to the interchange of Bu Kadra and Ras Al Khor Street. The development of the remaining sector of the Dubai-Al Ain Road from the interchange of Emirates Road up to the outskirts of Al Ain city will be undertaken in future,” explained Al Tayer.
The initial phase of the project includes upgrading the junction with Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road, which currently witnesses high traffic volumes. Works include constructing four ramps to serve traffic movement in four directions, which is planned to be completed in the first half of 2020. The existing bridge on Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road will be redeveloped to enable widening of the Dubai-Al Ain Road from three to six lanes in each direction, besides constructing service roads on both sides of the Road.– NNN-WAM
