Dubai: The first phase of construction work to upgrade existing infrastructure along Seih Assalam Road has begun, the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) announced on Saturday. The project, costing Dh69 million, falls in a sector stretching 12 km from the Bab Al Shams Hotel and Dubai International Endurance City to the roundabout abutting the rest area of the Cycling Track at Al Qudra Road.

The second phase of the project, scheduled to begin shortly, will extend 20 km from the first stretch up to the Dubai–Al Ain Road.

Mattar Al Tayer, Director General and Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of RTA, said the project has been initiated on the directives of His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.

“Upgrading Seih Assalam Road project aims to enhance the safe and smooth flow of traffic on the road,” Al Tayer said. “It will be widened from Bab Al Shams Hotel to the roundabout of the rest area of the Cycling Track on Al Qudra Road to comprise two lanes in each direction. Works include making three more roundabouts at junctions, street lighting, a storm-water drainage network and protecting and shifting the existing utility lines. Metal rails would be erected in the median to fend off casual U-turns, ground markings would be repainted and the existing trees would be protected.”

Al Tayer said the RTA will shortly carry out the second phase of the project. “Upon completion, the project will create a key traffic corridor starting from the Dubai International Endurance City up to the roundabout of the rest area of the Cycling Track, and from there to Dubai–Al Ain Road, or Al Qudra Road; which passes over Emirates Road and Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Road, and runs through to Jumeirah.”

This year, RTA finalised construction works to widen Al Qudra Road in a sector extending 12 km from the Jebel Ali-Lehbab junction up to the Bab Al Shams roundabout. The road now comprises of three lanes in each direction. The project cost approximately Dh110 million.

The RTA also opened a new bridge parallel to the old bridge crossing on Jebel Ali–Lehbab Road on January 31, diverted the cycling track to the new bridge, and erected a protecting boundary wall separating the cycling track from the Road. On March 31, the RTA opened crossing tunnels for vehicles and camels on Al Qudra Road.