Dubai: Traffic flow in one of Dubai’s busiest areas — Al Karama — will soon be smoother as the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has announced the building of a new free flow interchange to replace the existing signalised junction.
The RTA has awarded a Dh611 million contract for constructing the new interchange on the intersection of Shaikh Rashid Road and Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Road. The project is scheduled to be completed by the last quarter of 2017. The interchange is on the corner of Zabeel Park while going towards Al Karama from the World Trade Cenre. The project follows the nearing of construction works in upgrading Wafi Interchange, which will be opened by the end of April.
The construction of the new project followed the directives of His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to improve the road and transport network in Dubai.
Mattar Al Tayer, director-general and chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of the RTA, said that the Shaikh Rashid Road–Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Road Interchange is part of a major project for upgrading Al Shindagha roads network. The new project is undertaken as part of RTA’s master plan for upgrading the network of roads, bridges, crossings and tunnels to accommodate the growing traffic movement and improve mobility throughout Dubai.
The project includes construction of a bridge on Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Road and a tunnel on Shaikh Rashid Road as well as a bridge stretching from Umm Hurair Road in the direction of Shaikh Rashid Road. The project will result in smooth and free traffic movement from the Trade Centre roundabout to the intersection of Khalifa Bin Zayed Road with Al Kuwait Road where a two-lane bridge will be constructed in each direction.
The project also includes the construction of a tunnel on Shaikh Rashid Road in the direction of the intersection of Shaikh Rashid Road with Al Mankhool Road, comprising four lanes in each direction. It also includes the construction of a signalised junction underneath the bridge, while ensuring free traffic movement for turning from main roads to subsidiary roads as well as free traffic movement through a one-lane flyover stretching from Umm Hurair Road to Shaikh Rashid Road.
Works also include lighting, pavements, irrigation conduits, sewage system, and rainwater drainage system in addition to shifting and protecting utility lines such as electricity, water and telecommunications.
The RTA has set out a comprehensive plan for smooth traffic flow at traffic diversions. Accordingly, the engineering design of the temporary diversion conforms to the standards of permanent roads specifications in terms of engineering design, levelling, asphalt and sufficient lighting consistent with the designed speed of the road to ensure the safety of road users.
The same number of lanes will be maintained in the diversion to avoid any negative impacts on the normal traffic flow, additional snarls or delays due to construction works. The contractor’s site will be separated by a high barrier to reduce the noise levels experienced by road users to the minimum,
Wafi Interchange
By the end of April this year, the RTA will open the upgrading of the Wafi Interchange project; one of the key interchanges in Dubai as it links with a number of key roads, namely Shaikh Rashid Road and Oud Metha Road.
This project includes construction of a three-lane bridge from Oud Metha Road (near Latifa Hospital) in the direction of Shaikh Rashid Road and from there to Shaikh Zayed Road and Al Saada Road (flyover leading to the Dubai World Trade Centre) extending 700 metres with a capacity to handle around 3,300 vehicles per hour.
