Dh8 billion worth road projects planned for northern emirates

Abu Dhabi: A total of 600km of roads, costing around Dh8 billion, will be constructed or upgraded as part of the Dh16 billion infrastructure development projects in the northern emirates, a top official said on Sunday.

President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan has ordered the allocation of Dh16 billion to develop infrastructure in the northern emirates.

The move is aimed at pushing ahead with the economic progress and construction boom witnessed by all the emirates, as well as at improving the quality of life of UAE citizens in the remote areas to be on a par with their counterparts in other cities.

Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Public Works, said the projects, which will be implemented in four to five years, include the construction and improvement of 320km of inter-emirate highways at the cost of Dh3 billion.

These highways or federal roads, he said, include the 45 kilometre long dual carriage Dubai-Al Fujairah highway.

"The Dh1.2 billion road is part of a series of strategic projects to complete the federal road network which will directly and quickly link the eastern coast with other parts of the country," he said.

The 45.4 kilometre long dual carriage highway will have three lanes in each direction and is expected to be completed by 2009, Shaikh Hamdan told the press on Sunday.