Dubai: The final stage of work on the Dubai Tram will be complete by the end of next month as the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) prepares to launch the Tram operations in November, roads officials said on Tuesday.
Executing the final stage of the work, RTA has come up with the last traffic diversion for the project on Jumeirah Beach Residence (JBR) Street, Dubai Marina.
The one-kilometre-long diversion, which will be in place for at least one month, is part of the ongoing works of the Dubai Tram Project which is scheduled to be in operation in November.
Detailing the implementation of works, Maitha Bin Udai, CEO of the Traffic and Roads Agency, said, “The diversion works will require closure of the two lanes on both sides of the street, thus shifting traffic temporarily to the service road.”
She urged motorists to cooperate with the authorities by observing and complying with road rules and following directional signs to avoid traffic snarls.
She said that RTA is keen on minimising traffic jams by reducing the duration of the project.
“Work will be running throughout the day in the presence of a team of contractors and consultants ready for any emergency until the completion of the entire tram works. The traffic diversion currently under way will include three intersections at JBR Street,” added Maitha.
The 10.6 kilometre phase one of Dubai Tram will complement Dubai Metro as a new mode of public transport in the city. The trams will serve Al Sufouh, Knowledge Village, Media City, Dubai Marina and JBR.
Initially, 27,000 passengers are expected to use the tram per day in the first phase, and the ridership is expected to exceed 66,000 passengers per day by 2020.
The world’s first tram network with platform screen doors will operate with 11 stations, while six more stations will come up in the next stage.
The phase one of the 14.6-km-long tram network will be served by 11 trams, while 14 more trams will join in the next phase.
The tram track basically extends at grade level from the depot near Dubai Police Academy along Al Sufouh Road but rises in an elevated section across certain areas of Dubai Marina for reasons dictated by urban structures of the locality.
To integrate transport means in the emirate, Dubai tram is linked with Dubai Metro at two stations: Dubai Marina Station and Jumeirah Lakes Towers Station via footpaths to facilitate passenger movement between the two means of transport.
The tram will link with the Jumeirah Palm monorail at the entrance of the Palm on Al Sufouh Street with an air-conditioned footbridge.
