Abu Dhabi General Services Company (Musanada) said work has started on the 50-km-long Madinat Zayed-Al Marfa motorway and the project is likely to be completed by the first quarter of 2019.

The Dh653-million ($178 million) project is part of the Abu Dhabi Plan seeking to provide an effective transport system serving the community and economy, reported the state news agency Wam.

The new motorway linking Madinat Zayed to Al Marfa will facilitate movement of people and goods between the two cities as well as serve the main road network in the western region of Abu Dhabi.

The project involves construction of a two-lane dual carriageway,  road lighting, an upper interchange, three under-crossings for U-turns, turnaround and crossing of wild animals, and construction of four ducts and three utility protection bridges.