As part of a Dh25 billion ($6.80 billion) plan to to improve its road, traffic and transport services, Dubai Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has announced a Dh700 million ($190.6 million) project for the expansion and development of the Al Ittihad Road and will soon embark on three key road projects to facilitate traffic flow in the emirate.

The Al Ittihad Road, which links Dubai and Sharjah and a few commercial and residential areas, will include the expansion of the 7.5 km area from Sheikh Rashid Road through Al Garhoud, towards Al Shoula Intersection, heading to Al Ittihad road adjacent to the airport, crossing the Headquarters Roundabout (Galadari). This development will continue throughout Al Ittihad Street till the border of Sharjah as it passes through the Al Nahda Intersection.
The development plan will include a highway and a side road of four lanes each in both directions. A new tunnel with four lanes will be constructed at the Dubai Airport Intersection to assist the flow of traffic towards Sharjah, which is an addition to the existing tunnel, said Maitha Bin Adi, director of Roads Department at RTA.
Meanwhile, the three key road infrastructural projects that RTA is set to embark upon include:
• Construction of the Ras Al Khor overpass that will connect Doha Street with Al Khail Street, the contract of which has been awarded to National Wheel J&P, with a project completion set for 24 months;
• Improvement of the road network in the Sofouh area between the Burj Al Arab Interchange 4 and Interchange 5.5, with an estimated completion time of 18 months.
• The improvement of Al Rasheed Road interchanges includes transforming the roundabouts on Al Rasheed Road into traffic-light regulated intersections in order to increase traffic handling capacity. The overall estimated time for project completion is 10 months.
Among other developments, the RTA has announced that the Dh82.5 million ($22.46 million) Sheikh Zayed Road expansion project will be completed by July this year.
The road expansion work which commenced in July last year, includes adding to the existing three lanes on both sides of the road, two eight-km lanes along the stretch from Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) roundabout to the third interchange of the Al Manara Interchange on Sheikh Zayed Road.
“In light of the rapid growth and prosperity that the UAE and particularly Dubai is witnessing, it is essential to continuously take concrete steps towards upgrading road infrastructure. We are currently working on broadening the road near the DWTC tunnel area by altering the road course and narrowing the width of the lanes to accommodate additional lanes. Expansion work is also being undertaken in the open areas with the addition of lanes on either sides of the road. We are currently setting up tunnel walls leading to Umm Hurrair area and Al Maktoum Bridge to add tiles on the tunnel ceiling. The RTA is also building an additional road above this tunnel with two lanes leading towards Al Garhoud area,” said Bin Adi.
Since its inception, the RTA has been aiming at easing the traffic congestion in the UAE through providing effective and innovative solutions.
Among the other projects that the RTA is working on is the road modification on Al Maktoum Bridge.
RTA’s modification work on Al Maktoum Bridge that links Deira and Bur Dubai is also progressing as per schedule and is expected to be completed this month. It will result in extending the intersection area near the bridge, while avoiding bottlenecks and easing traffic flow .
The modifications include altering the free turn exit that links Baniyas Road and Umm Hurrair Road through Al Maktoum Bridge, allowing vehicles to smoothly reach Street number 17 (inside road in Riggat Al Buteen) and Al Maktoum Road. An additional lane will be added to Al Maktoum Road leading to Al Maktoum Bridge. Among the other modifications undertaken by the authority, is to increase the number of lanes on Al Maktoum Bridge leading to Bur Dubai.
The RTA has also completed over 80 per cent of the road works and the primary works being undertaken along the stretch from Al Dhiyafah Street to Burj Al Arab under the Jumeirah Beautification Project. The project involves adding a lane on all sides of the beach road for improved movement of traffic.
The $170 million project includes widening of the two-lane beach road to three lanes to allow for smoother flow of traffic; building service roads on either side to provide easy access to residences, the construction of footpaths with natural granite stones and laying of red asphalt cycling tracks. The project also envisages designing and building of water fountains, traffic junctions, roadside greening and installation of a mechanical watering system.
“Our committed efforts will provide effective solutions that will lead to an extensive and well-developed roads and transport network that will support Dubai’s growing population and help it to become the most vibrant city in the world,” said Matter Al Tayer, chairman of the board and executive director of the RTA.