Dubai: A four-lane flyover and an access bridge opened on Saturday, easing traffic moving into and heading out of Karama and Bur Dubai.
Part of the phase one of the 13km-long Shindagha Corridor, a major infrastructure upgrade starting from Wafi Interchange and stretching all the way to Al Mamzar, the new flyover on the Sana interchange will ease movement from Karama towards Shaikh Zayed Road and back.
The Dh611-million interchange upgrade by the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) also includes an eight-lane underpass, which will be ready by the second quarter of this year.
The perenially clogged intersection, which was previously signalised, is the crossing point of the Shaikh Rashid Road and Shaikh Khalifa Street, receiving traffic from Al Garhoud bridge, Oud Metha, Shaikh Zayed Road, Bur Dubai and Al Shindagha areas.
“The project is part of RTA’s master plan for the improvement of roads, bridges, crossings and underpasses to accommodate the growing traffic volumes, and ease the traffic movement in all parts of Dubai. It is also part of the overall efforts to implement RTA’s strategic plan for upgrading roads and transport infrastructure in Dubai,” said Mattar Al Tayer, director-general and chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of RTA.
The three-tier interchange upgrade will also increase the capacity of the junction at the ground level, catering to the growing traffic demands.
Once completed, more lanes will be added to the roads leading to the intersection, with five lanes leading from the direction of Wafi intersection on Shaikh Rashid Road, up from the current three lanes, while the opposite direction will also have five lanes leading to the intersection.
The Shindagha Corridor project is being carried out in three phases, with work on the second phase expected to start later this year.
The Dh3.8-billion phase two includes a 12-lane Shindagha bridge connecting historic districts of Al Shindagha and Al Ras as well as development of all the intersections along the Shindagha Corridor from the Sana interchange to the point where Abu Hail Road meets Al Khaleej Road in Deira.
The bridge, which is expected to be 300 metres’ long and 22 metres’ wide, will eventually replace the 40-year-old Shindagha Tunnel that currently connects Al Ras in Deira and Al Shindagha in Bur Dubai. It will rise up to 15 metres high, letting dhows and yachts pass under it.
Shindagha Tunnel is currently one of the busiest crossings on the creek with more than 100,000 vehicles passing through it on an average daily.
The Dh668-million phase three will including upgrades of the section between Abu Hail-Al Khaleej road interchange and Mamzar interchange on Cairo street. This phase will also include Al Mamzar bridge and Abu Hail bridge.
“The objective is to develop integrated solutions of roads and marine network that are safe for users, capable of matching the development plans and demographic growth, and encouraging the development and investment in Dubai,” added Al Tayer.
Another segment of the corridor, which opened for traffic last year, is the upgraded Wafi interchange.
The Wafi interchange upgrade includes a three-lane bridge from Oud Metha Road towards Shaikh Rashid Road, offering a direct link to Shaikh Zayed Road and Al Saada Road. The 700-metre-long bridge has a capacity to handle around 3,300 vehicles per hour.
DETAILS
• Dh611m is the cost of the project
• Eight lanes: underpass
• Four lanes: flyover
• Three levels of traffic flow
• Five lanes on Shaikh Rashid Road
