DUBAI’S Road and Transport Authority (RTA) has been allocated a budget of Dh7.036 billion ($1.9 billion) for this year, Mattar Al Tayer, chairman of the board and executive director of the authority, revealed.

Of this, the approved projects budget is estimated as Dh3.62 billion ($985.57 million) which will be spent on constructing around 99 projects, including 50 new projects to be undertaken in roads, marine transport and public transport sector, and 49 projects that are currently under way, said Al Tayer.

In 2014, the RTA will complete the construction of several ongoing projects, among which is the Dubai Tram, which has a track extending 11 km along Al Sufouh Street.  The initial phase of this project is expected to be opened in November this year.

By the end of this year, the RTA expects to award contracts for constructing the Etihad Bridge near the Dubai Creek Park, Dubai Courts at Bur Dubai side, and near Deira City Centre and the Dubai Golf Club at Deira side. Etihad Bridge, which will replace the existing Floating Bridge, comprises 12 lanes (six in each direction), in addition to a footpath in each direction. It measures 61.6 m in width and has an arch that rises 100 m.

The RTA will complete the construction of internal roads in residential areas in accordance with the Five-Year Plan (2012-2016) on a budget of Dh234 million ($63.70 million). In line with this plan, the authority last month gave the go-ahead for a Dh104-million ($28.3 million) contract to construct the internal roads at Muhaisna 2. The project, which involves constructing roads extending 31 km and repaving works among other aspects, will be completed in mid-2015.

Other projects it will work on this year include the Dh398-million ($108.36 million) Parallel Roads project supporting the Sheikh Zayed Road and Al Khail Road; the Dh70-million ($19.05 million) Jumeirah Corniche project; and a Dh49 million ($13.34 million)  project to widen Al Qudra Road, Al Tayer said.

Among other developments, four new footbridges will be built for Dubai tram users and residents as part of plans to upgrade main road networks in Dubai. Under the contract, the covered and air-conditioned bridges that will be fitted with electric elevators and escalators, will be constructed in two separate areas.

Two bridges will be constructed over Al Safouh Street to serve tram users and residents at both sides of the street, and the other two will link Tecom Zone with the opposite side of the street as well as the Dubai Marina Mall, thus providing means of safe transit in the busy areas.

The RTA has so far constructed 94 pedestrian bridges, and four new foot bridges are expected to open this month.

Meanwhile, the RTA recently inaugurated its state-of-the-art corporate data centre building at Umm Al Ramool, Dubai. The facility boasts sophisticated infrastructure and provides central IT services to technological and governance agencies.

The centre is equipped with multiple and alternative energy sources, generators and advanced eco-friendly power devices fitted with the cutting-edge automated systems to ensure business continuity.