Dubai: The long-awaited Deira-bound bridge at Marrakech Intersection [adjacent to Emirates airline headquarters] on Airport Road to ease traffic will open on Friday, said officials.
The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) made the announcement on Thursday as part of the second contract of the Airport Road Improvement Project, a Dh404-million initiative to accommodate a surge in the number of airport passengers expected to surpass 92 million by 2020.
. @RTA_Dubai opens major Deira-bound bridge at Marrakech intersection on Airport Street #Dubai pic.twitter.com/FTW5wnXdOV
— Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) September 14, 2017
The new structure is expected to greatly reduce congestion in that area of Dubai, the RTA said in a statement.
The Marrakech Intersection project includes an overpass on the Airport Road, with three lanes in each direction, and a direct ramp from the bridge heading to Terminal 3 of Dubai International Airport negating the need to wait at the traffic lights.
The intersection also includes construction of a two-lane tunnel to serve traffic heading left from Airport Road towards Marrakech.
Estimates show that the project will slash waiting time at the intersection from seven minutes to less than one minute.
As of Friday, vehicles on Airport Road (Marrakech Intersection) on Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Road and Al Khawaneej, will pass through Rashidiya Intersection in the direction of Deira through the new flyover.
Motorists heading to Umm Ramool may take the right lanes as per the directional signs towards the signalised intersection. The RTA will close the traffic movement coming from Terminal 1 of Dubai International Airport heading towards Deira to complete the remaining works at the new bridge at Casablanca intersection (Cargo Village). It will also provide an alternative route through Street No. 51 passing via Casablanca Street.
The project will contribute to increasing the capacity of Airport Road by 5,000 vehicles per hour, improving traffic safety and reducing the travel time on Airport Road from Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Road to Casablanca Street from 30 minutes to just five minutes.
The RTA urged motorists using Airport Road to be fully attentive, observe traffic lights and cautionary signs, and abide by the speed limits for their safety and the safety of others.
