Dubai: His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, on Wednesday approved a host of infrastructure and development projects in the emirate following a visit to the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA).

The Vice-President was received by Eng Mattar Mohammad Al Tayer, chairman of the board and director-general of RTA.

He was briefed by Al Tayer on various infrastructure projects being implemented in preparation for World Expo 2020, which falls in line with the Dubai Strategic Plan 2021.

Among these projects is the development of the Airport Road that involves the development of Al Rashidiya and Airport Road intersections with Marrakech Road, Casablanca Road and Nad Al Hammar Road. Al Tayer said that the improvements will increase the capacity of the Airport Road to cope with the expected increase in the number of passengers via Dubai International Airport.

Dubai is expected to receive 95 million passengers by 2020. Developments will also help reduce traffic jams on the Mohammad Bin Zayed Road up to the Casablanca Road as well as shorten the travel time on the congested Al Rashidiya Intersection.

Other projects include the development of Al Wasl Road, which extends from the 2nd of December Street to the Dubai Police Academy Intersection.

Shaikh Mohammad was also updated on and the development of the Jumeirah road, which involves the construction of walkways and cycling tracks. The traffic movement on both roads will be diverted into a one-way road, with four lanes each. The project involves the construction of special routes for pedestrians and other routes for cycling, and car parking.

Shaikh Mohammad approved the designs of metro stations as part of the Route 2020 project, which extends 15km. The route will include seven metro stations heading to the World Expo venue in Jebel Ali, and will pass through Discovery Gardens, Al Furjan, Jumeirah Golf Estate and Dubai Investments Park.

Route 2020 will also include the extension of the Dubai Metro’s Red line from the Nakheel Harbour and Towers station to the World Expo 2020 venue, extending 15 kilometres. The rout will serve 240,000 people living in Discovery Gardens, Al Furjan, Jumeirah Golf Estate and Dubai Investments Park.

Shaikh Mohammad was also briefed on the recently constructed Al Yalayis Road, with a length of 9km. Other development projects within the surrounding of the Expo 2020 venue is the development of Gardens area and the development the University City Road.

Al Tayer updated Shaikh Mohammad on the progress of work on the Bluewaters Island where work has commenced on the construction of a bridge extending from the island to Jumeirah Lakes.

Shaikh Mohammad also approved a project to develop roads and intersections around the International City and the Chinese Market where work will begin by the beginning of 2016.

Shaikh Mohammad expressed his satisfaction with the projects, and praised the efforts of the RTA chairman, engineers, technicians and administrative staff.