Roads & Transport Authority (RTA) partially opened Al Nahdah Bridge for traffic in the direction from Emirates Road towards Al Ittihad Road, and the second part of the Bridge in the direction from Al Ittihad Road to Emirates Road is set to be opened in early next July.
Al Nahda Bridge, which was opened last Saturday, is part of Al Nahdah – Beirut Roads Interchange Project in which construction works started in February 2007 at a cost of Dh290 million. The Project includes construction of the northern part of Dubai Airport Tunnel in a sector extending from Al Quds – Beirut Interchange up to Al Nahadah – Beirut Interchange as a highway. It comprises transforming Al Nahda-Beirut Road interchange from a light signal-controlled intersection into a separate levels interchange through constructing a flyover in Al Nahdah Road, in addition to an underpass on Beirut Road. This will improve traffic flow in these two roads and ensure smooth vehicle flow on Beirut Road from an to Airport Tunnel.
Engineer Metha bin Adai, CEO of RTA Traffic & Roads Agency stated that work is up & running in construction of the Arabian Ranches Interchange; which is scheduled for partial opening in August this year. Work is now in the final stages and completion rate in the project, which started in mid of 2006 at a cost of more than 400 million dirham, has now reached 94 per cent.
She described the project as one of the key projects ever carried by the RTA in the emirate of Dubai. “The Project aims at providing smooth traffic flow in all directions in separate lanes. It includes replacement of the existing R/A at the junction of Emirates Road with Umm Suqeim Road and Al Qudrah Road, by a giant interchange consisting of 11 Bridges and 1 underpass. It also includes widening of Emirates Road to six lanes in each direction and widening of Umm Suqeim Road and Al Qudrah Road in both directions.
“Widening of Umm Suqeim Road from two to four lanes has been completed in a sector extending 2.5 km. Work is progressing in widening of Al Qudrah Road from one to two in a sector extending 1.5 km, and then from two to four lanes in each direction up to the junction with the Bypass Road. Two temporary light signals to serve Auto City and Dubai Studios City are being constructed; pending completion of bridges construction.
The Project provides free traffic in all directions at the Interchange, particularly the left and U-turns. Such type of flyovers does not include any overlapping so as to ensure seamless traffic flow.
“This project, as well as other new projects currently underway, reflects the keen attention of the RTA to keep pace with future development and the continued growth of Dubai. Such a drive requires relentless efforts to provide practical and comprehensive solutions to ease the traffic flow in implementation of the vision of the RTA to provide safe and smooth transport for all'' said the CEO of RTA Traffic & Roads Agency in a concluding remark.
