Dubai: A segment of Dubai Metro’s Red Line will be temporarily closed on every Friday and Saturday, stating July 28 for the next 10 weeks.
The closure of metro service between Jumeirah Lakes Towers Station and Ibn Battuta Station is to enable the construction work to link the Red Line with the under-construction Route 2020.
Work on the 15km long Route 2020, which is an extension of the Red Line, began late last year, connecting the Nakheel Harbour and Tower station with the Expo 2020 site.
A free circular bus route will be in operation as an alternative service between Jumeirah Lakes Towers (JLT) and Ibn Battuta Metro Stations.
The shuttle bus service will be in place throughout the metro closure period.
“A free express bus service will be operated on a circular route to make for the metro closure between JLT and Ibn Battuta Stations from July 28 to Oct 15, 2017 (10 weeks) on weekends only (Friday and Saturday). The closure is required to proceed with construction works related to Route 2020 project,” said Mohammad Abu Baker Al Hashmi, Director of Planning and Business Development, RTA’s Public Transport Agency.
According to Al Hashemi, the shuttle buses will be available from all three stations to both directions.
Commuters heading towards the UAE Exchange Station will have to get off at JLT Station, take a free bus ride to Ibn Battuta Station and then continue their journey by metro in the direction of the UAE Exchange Station.
Riders travelling in the direction of Al Rashidiya Station need to get off at Ibn Battuta Station, take free bus rides to JLT Metro Station and then continue their journey on the metro in the direction of Al Rashidiya Station.
The metro riders heading to the UAE Exchange Station are required to drop off at JLT Station, board alternative free buses deployed to continue their journey to Ibn Battuta Station, where they would drop off to board the metro again and resume their metro ride to the UAE Exchange Station.
Metro commuters travelling in the direction of Al Rashidiya Station need to get off at Ibn Battuta Station, hop on the shuttle buses to JLT Station, hop off to continue their metro journey in the direction of Al Rashidiya Station.
The Dh10.6 billion Route 2020 is expected to be ready by the end of 2019 and will be scheduled to open for public from May 20, 2020, five months before the start of Expo 2020.
