New Abu Dhabi-Dubai road opens

Abu Dhabi: A new 62-kilometre highway connecting Abu Dhabi and Dubai was on Tuesday inaugurated by Shaikh Hazza Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Chairman of Abu Dhabi Executive Council, accompanied by Shaikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs.

The road, extending for more than 62 km and lighted by 2,000 lamppost, has been named Mohammed Bin Rashid Street.

The highway, an extension of Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Road (E311), is expected to ease congestion on the existing E11 Abu Dhabi-Dubai highway or Shaikh Maktoum Bin Rashid Road, said officials at the Abu Dhabi General Services Company (Musanada). Musanada is a public firm that provides contracting, construction and facilities management services to government entities.

The highway was built at a cost of Dh2.1 billion and has six interchanges and six underpasses to ensure the smooth flow of traffic includes two petrol stations, one on either side of the road, between its first and second interchange near Seih Shuaib.

The highway consists of four lanes in either direction. Officials said it can carry up to 8,000 vehicles per hour, and will function as a strategic link between the two emirates for travel during peak traffic hours.

The route begins at the Abu Dhabi-Dubai border near Seih Shuaib, and extends until the Sweihan Interchange on the Abu Dhabi-Sweihan Road. On the way to Abu Dhabi, motorists will pass by Al Maha Forest, the Forestry Green Belt, Khalifa Port and Khalifa Industrial Zone, Abu Mureikha and Zayed Military Camp.