More bridges and flyovers will be added to the multi-deck road project that is currently under construction, connecting Jumeirah with Al Khail Road, providing unhindered movement of traffic bypassing Sheikh Zayed Road, the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) announced on Saturday, 29th April, 2017.

Running between Interchange 2 and 3 on Sheikh Zayed Road, the elevated traffic corridor will provide an additional link between Jumeirah and Al Quoz, as part of RTA’s pan to provide direct intercommunity links bypassing major arteries.

Such links are being seen as one of the many ways of reducing the volume of vehicles on the main highways like Sheikh Zayed Road.

Work on the phase one of the AED 800-million project began early last year, with new diversions coming in place around Umm Al Sheif road last month.

On Saturday, the RTA announced the approval of the second phase of the project by His Highness Sheikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.

“The second contract of the project, which has been awarded to the National Contracting Company, includes improving the link between Sheikh Zayed Road and Al Khail Road and Jumeirah to the west and Dubailand to the east. It also covers the improvement of Al Quoz entrances as well as several development projects,” said Mattar Al Tayer, Director-General and Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of the RTA.

The second phase will cover improvements to the existing road from the intersection of Al Asayel-Latifa Bint Hamdan streets to the interchange of Al Khail Road, covering a distance of three kilometres and will also include the interchange between Latifa Bint Hamdan Street and First Al Khail Road.

Multi-level flyovers will replace the signalised interchanges, ensuring non-stop flow of traffic along Latifa Bint Hamdan Street.

The surface intersections along the Latifa Bint Hamdan Street will be upgraded to reduce the waiting time from three minutes to less than one minute, which will reduce congestion by 78 per cent during evening peak hours and enhance the capacity of the intersections by 40 per cent.

A new ramp will lead the traffic all the way to Al Khail Road (north) to reduce congestion at the existing exits, said Al Tayer.

“The project is part of RTA’s master plan to improve the network of roads, bridges, underpasses and crossings to accommodate growing traffic volumes, and ease mobility in various parts of Dubai. It also complements RTA’s strategic plan for improving vertical traffic corridors such as the Airport Street, Tripoli Street, Al Yalayes Street and Al Asayel Street.”

Work on the first phase of the project is being carried out by China State Company, covering the construction of the flyovers linking Latifa Bint Hamdan Street and Umm Al Sheif Street that will run along Sheikh Zayed Road, as well as upgrading the Umm Al Sheif Street-Al Wasl Street interchange.

The project when completed will link Jumeirah with Al Khail Road, First Al Khail Road and Al Asayel Road through two-level roads and bridges offering free traffic flow.

Traffic will move along double-deck bridges along Sheikh Zayed Road, without adding to the volume of vehicles on the highway or disturbing its traffic flow.

“The two bridges will be constructed above and underneath the viaducts of the Dubai Metro Red Line, and will have no impact on the operation of the metro,” said Al Tayer.

He said that the RTA has set out a comprehensive plan for a smooth traffic flow at traffic diversions that will be in place throughout the period of construction.

“According to the plan, the design of the temporary traffic diversions will fully conform to the specifications of the permanent roads in terms of engineering design, the number of lanes as well as quality of material used to ensure the safety of road users,” he said.

First phase of the project is expected to be ready in the first half of 2018, while the second phase will be completed in the first quarter of 2019.