Abu Dhabi: Inbound and outbound traffic flow from the capital was expected to ease further with the complete opening last week of the Al Mafraq Bridge, which links the capital with Dubai, Al Ain and the Al Gharbia (Western Region).
Two lanes headed out from the capital city to Dubai were opened last week, signalling the completion of Al Mafraq Bridge project that converted the old four-lane bridge to a road network comprising of 27 lanes, a statement from the Abu Dhabi Municipality (ADM) announced on Tuesday.
The new bridge, which is located about 30 kilometres from the capital city can now carry 24,000 vehicles per hour. It will ease the growing intersection of traffic at the location, especially as the bridge is one of the main connections between Abu Dhabi and the northern emirates, the ADM statement added.
Abdullah Al Shamsi, acting executive director of municipal infrastructure and assets sector at the ADM, said the upgrade was undertaken as part of its efforts to renovate roads and infrastructure in the capital.
"Upgrading the bridge was part of the ADM's efforts to ensure the safety of all road users and to keep pace with the rapid urbanisation and projected demographic expansion of the emirate," Al Shamsi said. He added that during the project design process, peak-hour traffic flow over the next 25 years was taken into account.
The Dh830-million Al Mafraq Bridge upgrade began in March 2008 and included three bridges and four 18-kilometre slip roads.
At a glance:
- 75-metre main bridge from Dubai to Tarif at height of 10-metres from ground level
- 880-metre flyover from Abu Dhabi to Al Shahama at height of 21 metres from ground level
- 850-metre flyover from Al Ain to Tarif at height of 20 metres from ground level
27 lanes reconstructed
Source: Abu Dhabi Municipality
