Al Manara Interchange to be replaced

Dubai Municipality has called for the submission of tenders for a multi-million dirham project to replace Al Manara Interchange - Interchange Three on Sheikh Zayed Road - with a network of new flyovers and additional lanes.

Eng. Badr Yousuf Al Gergawi, Head of the Road Planning Section, said that the new interchange would be designed to accommodate the projected growth in traffic.

"The tenders will be opened by mid-June and work will begin by the end of next month," said Al Gergawi.

The municipality is working to reduce interchange traffic on Sheikh Zayed Road and has carried out a comprehensive survey.

"It showed the need for a new interchange to cope with the rapid development in the area. The move is part of plans to replace all eight bridges on Sheikh Zayed Road and to build more interchanges," said Al Gergawi.

Already, Interchange Two has been replaced and work on Interchange Four - or the Police College Interchange - is underway.

Other new bridges will be in place by 2007.

"When these interchanges were built, the adjacent buildings were eight to 10 storeys high. Today, 40 to 50-storey buildings have sprung up. This is a sign of development, but traffic has also increased. Hence, the need for more bridges."

The new project consists of rebuilding Interchange Three. The proposed configuration for the junction is a full cloverleaf with all loops accommodating one travel lane except one loop that will accommodate two travel lanes.

The interchange will also include the construction of a two-lane directional ramp located to the south of the interchange to provide direct access to Al Quoz Industrial Area.

The project will also include the construction of a fifth lane in both directions of Sheikh Zayed Road and the widening and improvement of the service road on both sides between Interchanges Two and Four.

Junctions with signals will be built on Road 8 on the Al Quoz side in addition to improvements to the Al Manara-Al Wasl Road intersection.

The construction of all associated roadway signage, street lighting, relocation or protection of utilities, construction of utility crossing as well as the building of storm drainage and irrigation systems for this new roadway improvement, will be undertaken under this project.