DUBAI’S Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has announced a major street paving project in the emirate, costing up to Dh1 billion ($272 million), a report said.

The project, which is expected to start in a few weeks, will be completed in four years, said the report in the Gulf News, quoting Mattar Al Tayer, chairman and CEO of RTA.

He said the work will first start in areas where the sewage system is complete. The first phase of the project, estimated to cost Dh150 million ($40.87 million), will include five areas in Sha’abiyat Hatta, while the Dh140-million ($38.15 million) second phase, which will start in 2013, will cover the second Al Muhaisna area along with Al Barsha 2, the report said.