Three bridges open to traffic in Dubai

Dubai: Three bridges opened to traffic on Friday at Al Ittihad Road and the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) said they will help ease traffic flow on the main arterial road between the two emirates.

RTA has urged motorists to exercise caution and to comply with speed limits and traffic signals at site.

The three bridges are the second, third and fourth bridges at Al-Ittihad Road. This is part of Al-Ittihad Road Improvement Project from Shu'ala Roundabot, Police Headquarters Underpass, Mulla Plaza underpass and to the outskirts of Sharjah.

RTA hopes the the opening of the completed parts of this vital traffic corridor will contribute to realising its vision of provide 'safe and smooth transport for all'.

A senior RTA executive said Bridge No. two will serve traffic flow inbound from Abu Hail and outbound leftwards to Al Qusais and Sharjah. Bridge four will serve traffic inbound from Salah Uddin outbound rightward to Al Qusais and Sharjah. This will pass through Bridge three, where traffic from Salah Uddin and Abu Hail Roads converge, heading towards Al Qusais and Sharjah.

She said this part of the project which started in early 2007 at a total cost of Dh 480 million. Bridge one opened earlier this year.

“These works include covering the underpass of Al Nahdah Interchange, converting the roundabout into a signalised junction. It also involved constructing a new three-lane underpass parallel to the existing one, and widening Al-Ittihad Road''

She said in the sector between Al Nahdah Interchange and Police HQ Interchange, includes upgrading the interchange by separating high volume traffic from the interchange. This is done by constructing two separate additional interchanges at Al Ittihad Road, each consisting of two lanes in each direction parallel to the existing underpass; providing in effect four lanes in each direction.

Phase I and Phase II of the Master Plan of Al-Ittihad Road Development Project, which is set for completion in mid 2009, are part of development projects underway aiming to reduce traffic jams, improve roads condition, and provide better services at residential areas.

The Project hopes to keep pace with the huge development drive by Dubai and meet the current and projected requirements of roads and transport.