Dh5 billion Salam Street upgrade project is on track, say officials

Abu Dhabi: The Dh5 billion Salam Street upgrade project, Abu Dhabi's ambitious project to improve its road infrastructure, is on schedule and about 37 per cent of the first three projects (of total four) have been completed, officials said on Wednesday, during a media tour to the work sites.

"The fourth project will be awarded soon and the construction will begin in the near future," the officials said.

The projects, to be completed by the end of 2010, will increase the capacity of Salam Street by 100 per cent, from 3,000 cars per hour to 6,000 with nonstop 'green drive' without the hassle of traffic signals. The senior officials term it as green drive as the straight road will minimise the air pollution by reducing the fuel consumption.

The first project, comprising 3.5 kilometre-long tunnel (with covered area of 2.3 kilometres), one of the longest tunnels in the region, has been 27 per cent completed, said Ahmad Saleh Bakhit Al Sayari, Section Head of Contracts and Quantity Surveying, Road Sector and Technical Services. The detours and excavation work for the Dh3.1 billion project (first) is in progress, he said. About seven temporary pedestrian bridges have been installed on Salam Street, which may remain permanently to support pedestrian movements, Al Sayari said.

The construction of two tunnels under project two, near Khalifa Park and close to Makhta Bridge, have been 45 per cent completed, said Mohammad Ahmad Al Katheeri, Project Manager. The structure of the two tunnels of 850 meters long each will be completed by February 2010 and will be operational by August 2010, he said.

About 800 people are working on the Dh817 million project from May 5, 2008, Al Katheeri added.

Project three, comprising two tunnels and a bridge, has been 40 per cent completed, said Yasir Al Ani, Resident Engineer of Parsons. "The first tunnel in the project, near the sea palace, is about 900-metres long''.

The second tunnel is about 850-metres long, which is located at the junction of Hazza Bin Zayed Street (Defence Street) and Salam Street. Construction of the bridge, connecting Hazza Bin Zayed Street and Al Reem Island, is also progressing, he said. More than 1000 workers and about 70 engineers are working extended hours in Dh800 million project, Al Ani said. "It will be completed by April 2010."
Relocating the electric, sewerage and water lines were the major challenge. "Draining the water during the excavation of tunnels was also a major task," said the officials.

Progress of the projects

Project I
Cost: Dh3.1 billion
26 to 27 per cent completed
About 3.5 kilometre-long tunnel with covered area of 2.3 kilometres (one of the longest in the region)

Project II
Cost: Dh817 million
45 per cent completed
Two tunnels of about 850 meters-long, each near Khalifa Park Scheduled to be completed by August 2010

Project III
About 40 per cent completed
Cost: Dh800 million
900 metre-long tunnel near Sea Palace
About 850-metre long tunnel at the junction of Hazza Bin Zayed Street (Defecne Street) and Salam Street.
A bridge connecting Hazza Bin Zayed Street to Al Reem Island

Project IV
Not yet started
Widening the area between eastern ring road and the street numbers 25 and 27.

How much of an impact will the result make on traffic congestion? What other roads do you think need reconstruction?

I agree with Benaifer, for such a massive infrastructural improvement there would be inconvenience. The same thing happened in Karachi, people suffered for a couple of years but now the commuting time has reduced to half. I believe that this project would have the same impact, even greater. Once finished would be a dreamy "Green Drive" on Salam Street.
Mohammad Kazim
Abu Dhabi,UAE
Posted: May 07, 2009, 12:22

Once the Sadiyat link bridge gets activiated by November 2009, I think we will have less load on the Salam Street diversion.
Mustafa Shabbir
Abu Dhabi,UAE
Posted: May 07, 2009, 12:17

The Salam St. constructions has been the reason that Tourist Club and Navigate area is congested they should also look into widening the road in Muroor/Defense intersection, Najda/Electra intersection and the whole stretch of Airport Rd.
Jamist
Abu Dhabi,UAE
Posted: May 07, 2009, 09:59

Any major project of this magnitude will cause major inconvenience when in progress. However, i believe once the projects are completed it will be well worth the wait. But along with building the road infrastructure, the authorities should also work on public transport facilities so that all the good work that is done with the roads is not nullified by the entry of a 100% more vehicles on the roads. This is a great effort and I am looking forward to the completion.
Benaifer Kolah
Abu Dhabi,UAE
Posted: May 07, 2009, 09:38

As a commuter on Al Salam Street, I strongly believe this project will significantly reduce the traffic congestions and other traffic problems. I always prefer to use Al Salam Street due to less traffic signal. I hope there will be more convenience and joy for commuters once the tunnel came operational.
Noor Mohammad Y.
Abu Dhabi,UAE
Posted: May 07, 2009, 09:04