THE Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) of Dubai has awarded a Dh167 million ($45 million) contract for the Umm Suqeim Road widening and improvement project.

The contract for widening the stretch from Sheikh Zayed Road up to Al Khail Road has been awarded at a time where work on flyovers at the intersection of Al Khail Road and Umm Suqeim Road is nearing completion.

Mattar Al Tayer, chairman of the board and executive director of the RTA, said: “The project aims at separating traffic from Sheikh Zayed Road to Al Khail Road from the local traffic movement by constructing flyovers at the intersections of this corridor with the Eastern Parallel Road (Al Asayel Road), and the Western Parallel Road (Al Khail Road One).  Two flyovers, each with three lanes, will be constructed at each intersection, in addition to service roads and car parks.

Meanwhile, the four-phase Al Khail Road project is being executed at a cost of Dh1.9 billion ($517.7 million), and is considered one of the biggest projects being undertaken by the RTA. Divided into four phases, the project is as an extension of the Business Bay Crossing.

“Construction works on the Al Khail Road project have reached the final stages and all key flyovers at the interchanges are set for opening by the end of this year, while the remaining subsidiary bridges are set for completion in the first half of 2013. Works on some interchanges are nearing completion at rates ranging from 72 per cent to 96 per cent,” Al Tayer said.