The Ministry of Infrastructure Development is working on implementing three truck rest areas on Emirates Road and the Al Dhaid– Sharjah Road as part of its many projects to achieve a smooth traffic flow.

The three truck rest areas will be made to accommodate the large number of vehicles that were jamming the roads during the period of the traffic ban and causing a danger to road users, Dr Abdullah Mohammad Bel Haif Al Nuaimi, Minister of Infrastructure Development, said on Sunday during a tour of the three projects.

The minister pointed out the rest areas will accommodate 300 trucks each and will have restaurants, mosques and places dedicated for rest.

He added that upon the completion of construction of Emirates Road up to Shuhada Street, non-licensed trucks will be prevented from going on Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Road.

Dr Al Nuaimi also toured the entrance of the Umm Al Quwain and Al Badee Bridge, both road projects which will play a vital role in supporting the system of roads and infrastructure in the country, as well as contribute to achieving a smooth flow of traffic between the various areas linked by the roads.

He said the intersection of Al Badee bridge project, which is expected to be completed at the end of next year at a total estimated cost of Dh200 million, consists of three parts, including a three-lane bridge for the traffic from Dubai to Sharjah directly towards the university campus. The second part is a way out for those coming from Sharjah to Dubai, and also consists of three lanes.

The entrance of Umm Al Quwain, he explained, consists of six bridges, including two main bridges, each comprising two lanes in each direction, in addition to two tunnels, connecting the entrance of Umm Al Quwain to highways. He added that the development of the entrance includes the construction of bridges and bypass roads to link the emirate to Al Ittihad Road and Umm Al Quwain-Falaj Al Mualla Road.

The project of the entrance of Umm Al Quwain is 78 per cent complete, he said, and is expected to open during the fourth quarter of this year, noting that construction work started in the first quarter of last year.

“According to studies carried out by the ministry, the entrance of Umm Al Quwain is expected to see a growth in users of 5.3 per cent per year until 2017, which means an increase of intersection users, expected to reach 7 per cent on an annual basis starting in 2018,” he said.

Dr Al Nuaimi directed the quick completion of these projects and said that they come within the ministry’s strategy, which aims to develop the federal road network through the construction of a number of vital road arteries linked to various emirates.