New interchange on Zayed Road

A new interchange will be constructed by Dubai Municipality to connect Sheikh Zayed Road with the back road.

Khalid Khalifa Al Marri, Head of Roads Construction Section at the Roads Department, said the municipality is finalising the design, which will be shaped like a diamond, enhance connectivity and ease travel between Sheikh Zayed Road and the back road.

The municipality is working on reducing interchange traffic on Sheikh Zayed Road. Toward this end, a comprehensive study and survey was conducted on Sheikh Zayed Road.

"The survey shows that there is a 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 Marri.

"When the bridges were constructed, the adjacent buildings were eight to 10 storeys high. But today, 40- to 50-storey buildings have sprung up. This is a sign of the rapid development witnessed in Dubai, but traffic has also increased. Hence, the need to build more bridges."

The project consists of the construction of interchange No. 2 1/2 along Sheikh Zayed Road. The new interchange will have signals and will provide access to and from Sheikh Zayed Road.

In addition, a directional ramp will be constructed to provide direct access from Sheikh Zayed Road westbound to Al Quoz Industrial area south of the proposed interchange. The interchange will provide proper access and exits from adjacent roadway networks.

The project will also include setting up four other traffic signals, landscaping, the construction of roadway signage, street lighting, relocation and protection of storm drainage and irrigation system.

Along with these improvements, a fifth lane in each direction will be added to Sheikh Zayed Road between Interchanges two and four.

The municipality aims to widen the road network to accommodate the increasing number of vehicles, as well as smoothen the traffic flow on Sheikh Zayed Road. This interchange will connect Sheikh Zayed Road to the back road, which starts from Bu Kidra roundabout and stretches to the south-east of Al Quoz Industrial area, and link up finally with the Emirates Ring Road.

The back road offers new entrances to Al Quoz and to Al Barsha. It also encourages investors to build in the area.

A special area has been set aside for future development. The road lies right behind Sheikh Zayed Road. A very small stretch of road connecting Al Safa to Bu Kidra is already under way, to help link the new Interchange No.2 1/2 with Bu Kidra, so motorists will not have to go down Sheikh Zayed Road.

The overall plan is to build more roads to connect the remote regions and to cope with urban development in the outer areas of Dubai, said Al Marri. The construction and rebuilding is expected to be completed next year.