Dubai: Traffic capacity of Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed road near Al Maktoum International Airport is set to double as a widened seven-kilometre long sector readies next Friday, February 26, the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) announced on Saturday.
The number of lanes on this truck-heavy sector has been doubled from three lanes on each direction to six lanes per side, helping improve traffic on a key route connecting Al Maktoum International Airport with Jebel Ali Industrial area as well as with other strategic locations.
Mattar Al Tayer, Director-General and Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of RTA said that the seven km-long sector extends from Al Maktoum International Airport roundabout to Jebel Ali-Lehbab roundabout.
He also announced that the 60 per cent work on another related project has been completed.
“Work on the Dh227 million Al Houdh Junction project between Shaikh Mohammad bin Zayed Road and Al Yalayis Road is set for completion in the last quarter of 2016,” he said.
He added that Al Houdh Junction Project, which is situated at the western part of Dubai bordering the Arabian Ranches Interchange on the north, and the Trucks Road on the south, is one of the key strategic projects on Shaikh Mohammad bin Zayed Road.
The project involves upgrading the existing Al Houdh roundabout from a signalised junction into a flyover accommodating the track of Etihad Rail.
The project also includes the widening of the Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Road in an 11 km-long sector extending from Al Houdh roundabout to the junction leading to Al Maktoum International Airport from three to six lanes in each direction. It also includes the construction of a service road on both sides of the Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Road, on a 4 km-long sector extending from Al Khail Road junction to Al Houdh roundabout to ease the entry and exit from the neighbouring development projects.
Work also includes street lighting, rainwater drainage, traffic signs, ground markings, and service utility works in the area as needed by service providers.
Al Tayer explained that a traffic diversion plan has been worked out to ensure smooth traffic flow along the roundabout and the connected entry and exit points.
“The main traffic diversion will be opened early April 2016 when the traffic on Shaikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road will be diverted to the round within the flyover area in order to complete road works in the surroundings of the flyover,” he said.
The same number of lanes will be maintained in the proposed traffic diversion to ensure a smooth flow of traffic without affecting the traffic volumes and avoiding congestions.
When completed, the project will sort out the overlapping traffic on the existing roundabout, and ensure a smooth vehicular movement in various directions.
It will ensure smooth traffic flow for vehicles coming from Al Yalayis Road heading east towards the Dubai Investment Park, and west towards Shaikh Zayed Road and Jebel Ali Free Zone.
It will also provide a smooth flow of traffic from Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed road to and from Abu Dhabi emirate.
Al Houdh Junction Project is part of phase 32 of the Improvement & Widening of Shaikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road Project costing about Dh940 million.
