Emirates Road to be expanded to 12 lanes

Dubai: Emirates Road is being turned into a 12-lane highway to cope with the increasing traffic congestion on the road, said a senior official at the Dubai Roads and Transport Authority (RTA).

The 35-km stretch of the highway between Sharjah-Dubai borders and Arabian Ranches roundabout will be expanded from the existing three lanes to six lanes on each direction.

The RTA had earlier planned to expand the road to five-lane dual carriageway. "We have modified the project and now instead of having five lanes on each side, we will have six lanes on each direction considering the fast increase in the number of road users and a number of developments coming up along the road," the official added.

The expansion work already started in June 17 last year and is scheduled to finish in August. "It will take a bit longer now because of the additional work," he said.

Number of lanes will also be increased on all the seven interchanges on the Emirates Road to avoid congestion at exits.

Three-level interchange

Meanwhile, construction on a three level interchange with 13 bridges is going on schedule on the roundabout at the Emirates Road linking Dubailand, Autodrome and Arabian Ranches.

The interchange, deemed as the biggest in the UAE, is being built at the cost Dh409 million. The construction on the project, started in June last year is expected to finish in June 2008.

Mattar Al Tayer, Chairman of the Board and Executive Director, RTA, earlier said that the RTA is working with great commitment towards the expansion and construction of new roads in Dubai to ease the burgeoning traffic in the emirate.

Trying to solve congestion by building wider roads is like trying tring to live longer by taking more breaths per minute.
Kulah
Dubai,UAE

This is so great. I believe that RTA is doing a great job.
Adam
Dubai,UAE

I am glad that Dubai is taking road enhancements seriously. If only Sharjah and Ajman would improve their side of Emirates Road.
Baz
Abu Dhabi,UAE

I feel that your country is developing very fast and fine.
Makoto
Yokohama,Japan

The RTA is doing good work in trying to solve Dubai's traffic problems. However, the RTA needs to look at the problems facing residents who live on the outskirts of Dubai, in particular Mirdif. The town is expanding rapidly yet there is still only one access road, which is becoming increasingly clogged with traffic at peak times. At least two or three new access roads need to be built to cope with the number of vehicles entering and exiting Mirdif.
Malcolm
Dubai,UAE

It is nice idea, but honestly, I have never seen a highway in the whole world with roundabouts like the Emirates Road. It is very dangerous.
Khalil
Abu Dhabi,UAE

Expansion of Emirates Road to six lanes each side will reduce traffic congestion on Sheikh Zayed road and Emirates road. If heavy vehicles - like six wheel pick up trucks, mini buses, heavy buses kept away from the first four lanes, there would be smooth traffic flow.
Ahmed
Abu Dhabi,UAE

Here we go again already the roundabout at Arabian Ranches is a nightmare...now we will have road expansions that means traffic chaos everywhere.
AA
Dubai,UAE

No point in expanding highways/main roads to reduce traffic. The RTA should look into the bottle necks which cause the most traffic, especially the exit from Sharjah to Dubai.
Thayaparen
Dubai,UAE