Dubai: Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has opened a new 170-metre bridge, comprised of two lanes in each direction, at the intersection of Nad Al Sheba and Dubai-Al Ain roads, it tweeted on Saturday.
The bridge, which can handle 6,600 vehicles per hour, serves the traffic from and to Dubai-Al Ain Road heading to Nad Al Sheba, Meydan, and the development projects in the neighbourhood. The bridge cuts the travel time by 88 per cent, from 104 seconds to just 13 seconds
Mattar Mohammad Al Tayer, Director-General, Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors, RTA, said the new bridge eases the flow of traffic during peak time and enhances the traffic safety level. The bridge has slopes extending 560m, fitted with light signals to ensure maximum safety and security of road users. Construction included improvements of inward and outward surface roads at Nad Al Sheba.
Wider improvement project
The construction of Nad Al Sheba interchange is part of the ‘Dubai-Al Ain Road Improvement Project’ currently undertaken by RTA.
The project involves constructing six key intersections along the road and widening it from three to six lanes in each direction. The project spans a 17km-sector from the junction of Dubai-Al Ain Road with Emirates Road up to Bu Kadra-Ras Al Khor intersection.
“RTA has completed 70 percent of works in the entire Dubai-Al Ain Road development project, one of the biggest road infrastructure projects currently undertaken by RTA, which will benefit about 1.5 million persons. Upon completion, the project will contribute to the smooth traffic flow while improving the connection with Ras Al Khor Road, Sheikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Road, Sheikh Zayed Bin Hamdan Al Nahyan and Emirates Road, besides serving the existing and future projects on both sides of Dubai-Al Ain Road,” Al Tayer said.
Doubling capacity
The project will also double the road’s capacity from 6,000 vehicles per hour per direction to 12,000 vehicles per hour per direction. It will also slash the travel time on the sector of Dubai-Al Ain Road from Bu Kadra intersection to Emirates Road junction from 16 minutes to eight minutes only, in addition to easing tailbacks that used to extend 2km, added Al Tayer.
“The scope of Phase 2 of Dubai-Al Ain Road development project includes widening the highway from three to six lanes in each direction and constructing new flyovers and service roads to ensure a safe entry and exit from residential and service communities on both sides of the road,” he said.
Serving residential communities
Dubai-Al Ain Road Improvement Project also includes constructing service roads on both sides of the road to enhance safety. The six intersections of the project will contribute to smoothening the flow of traffic and serving residential communities on both sides of the road, such as Dubai Silicon Oasis, Dubailand Residence Complex, Liwan, Meydan and Dubai Design District.
The overall length of the project's six junctions amounts to 6.6km and all bridges span 4.9km.
RTA had previously constructed ramps at the intersection of Sheikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Road with Dubai-Al Ain Road enabling traffic movement in all directions, which is now open for traffic.
-with inputs from WAM
