A road to relieve heavy vehicle traffic will be built from Khaleej Al Arabi Street to Mena Zayed Road in the second phase of the Abu Dhabi Corniche project.

There will also be a number of underpasses connecting key locations in Abu Dhabi to the New Corniche, said Al Asema, Abu Dhabi Municipality's news letter.

His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, recently reviewed the progress of the Corniche project with Abu Dhabi Municipality and Town Planning officials, during a meeting of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council.

"A new road from Khaleej Al Arabi Street to Mena Zayed Road will be constructed overlooking the sea front on the New Corniche. Saadiyat Island will be linked by bridges to the mainland and Mena Zayed," said Saeed Trais Al Mazrouie, Municipality and Town Planning Undersecretary.

The National Consultative Council has been complaining that the increasing flow of trucks on the Corniche creates problems on main linking streets, causing traffic jams on nearby roads.

"There will be a number of tunnels built in the second phase of the project. One, to connect Salam Street with the New Corniche; another, to connect Mena Road and Mena Zayed entry point to the New Corniche and a third to connect the existing Corniche with Liwa Street extension. Parks and public services will be provided at these locations for pedestrians," he said.

The second phase will feature a tunnel to connect Zayed the Second Street with Hamdan Street to facilitate traffic in the city centre. A tunnel will be built to connect the Officers' Residential area near Musaffah bridge with the area between Maqta Bridge and the latter.

The Officers' Residential area will be connected with Mussaffah by a shortcut tunnel. Musaffah Bridge will be expanded to become a four-lane bridge with lay-bys and pedestrian walkways.

"The city centre tunnel which connects Zayed the Second Street and Hamdan Street will be built partly under the Eastern Ring Road. As for Maqta Bridge, around 60,000 vehicles crossed it last year, and the expansion is intended to accommodate more vehicles," said Engineer Abdullah Al Kuthairi, of the municipality's town planning department.

Parks will be beautified and recreational centres will be set up on the Corniche. The Clock Tower there will be replaced by a traditional wind tower, 70 metres high. There will be cafes and kiosks by the side of the street for pedestrians.