Dubai: Motorists will soon be able to avoid the busy Shaikh Zayed Road section between interchange two and three as a two-kilometre-long multi-deck traffic corridor is all set to open.
The six-lane corridor, which connects Umm Al Sheif Road in Al Safa 2 with Latifa Bint Hamdan Street in Al Quoz, passes along Shaikh Zayed Road, without adding to the volume of vehicles on the highway or disturbing its traffic flow.
Part of the Roads and Transport Authority’s (RTA) plan to provide direct inter-community links bypassing major arteries, the elevated passage gives commuters an additional link between Jumeirah and Al Quoz, while reducing the travel time on the stretch to less than five minutes.
“The project is a part of a major upgrade to Al Wasl and Jumeirah streets, as part of RTA’s master plan for upgrading the network of roads, bridges, crossings and tunnels to accommodate the growing traffic movement and improve mobility throughout Dubai,” said Mattar Al Tayer, director-general and chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of RTA, during the launch of the project.
He added that the corridor complements the RTA’s strategic plan for improving vertical traffic corridors.
Making seamless connectivity between the two communities a reality, the corridor offers signal-free conveyance from the Spinney’s interchange on Al Wasl Road all the way to Al Khail Road, passing through First Al Khail Road (National Cements Factory) and Al Asayel Road (Al Khail Mall) intersections on Latifa Bint Hamdan Street.
The flyover, which offers a two-way commute, also provides access into Al Quoz to Shaikh Zayed Road motorists heading south.
Receiving its final touches now, the Dh800 million project comprises multiple sections with several ramps adding new access and exit points along Shaikh Zayed Road.
Motorists driving along the service road on the Al Quoz side of Shaikh Zayed Road will have a new access point to the highway, towards Sharjah, which will reduce long tailbacks and congestion at the old exit near Oasis Centre.
Additionally, a new ramp from Zomorrodh Street provides another access point to the highway towards Jebel Ali, allowing motorists from Al Quoz avoid the long winding exits at interchange two and three.
On the other side of the highway, a relocated Exit 44 gives direct access to the residents of Al Safa 2 and to the Umm Al Sheif Emarat Petrol Station, while a ramp from Umm Al Sheif Road leads traffic directly onto Shaikh Zayed Road towards Sharjah.
Part of the project, which is set to cut down the travel time along the section by 80 per cent, is also the double-deck upgrade of the Al Asayel Road/Latifa Bint Hamdan Street (Al Khail Mall) intersection.
The upgrade will see two flyovers — a four-lane bridge running one above a six-lane flyover, criss-crossing the Al Khail Mall intersection.
Coming after the upgrade of Meydan/First Al Khail Road (Dubai Bowling Centre) intersection as well as the Meydan/Al Khail road interchange, which has eased traffic movement along Hadiqah Street and Meydan Road, the new project will further help improve the mobility along the parallel roads while reducing pressure on Shaikh Zayed Road.
