RTA awards contracts of two roads parallel to Sh. Zayed Rd, costing Dh1.4bn

The Project, which costs about Dh1.4bn is poised to be implemented within two years.

H.E. Mattar Al Tayer stated that Improvement of Roads Parallel to Sh. Zayed Rd Project is among the vital projects undertaken by the RTA to ease congestion problem of Sh. Zayed Rd. This road corridor will therefore extend from Sh. Rashid Road to the North and terminate at the outskirts of Abu Dhabi. The road extends 108 km, consists of three lanes at each direction, and comprises bridges & surface interchanges with perpendicular roads extending 42 km. "This project consists of two supporting roads to Sh. Zayed Rd; which is experiencing heavy traffic as a result of development projects that are regularly being completed along Sh. Zayed Rd. Total intake of these two roads is expected to be in the order of 18.000 vehicles per hour" said Al Tayer.

The Chairman of the Board & Executive Director of the RTA explained that the key works listed under Phase III (A) of improvement of Parallel Roads at a cost of 449.233 million dirham, are being awarded to Todini Co. and the construction period will be 600 days.

He added that the project is located at Jumeirah Lake Towers and links large scale developments of Emaar and Nakheel in the area south of Sheikh Zayed Road between interchange 5 and 5 1/2. The project includes construction of a road corridor extending 10 km and consisting of 6 lanes. The project components include construction of 5 Bridges, and 2 Tunnels. The project also includes several construction activities like utilities, pavement, signage, road marking, street lighting, diversion and protection of the existing services. He pointed out that the execution of the project represents 6% of the total parallel roads construction of Parallel Roads Project.

H.E. Al Tayer stated that Phase (B) of the project, the cost of which is estimated at Dh950 million, has been awarded to Al Nabooda Contracting Co. and the project is scheduled to be completed in 730 days. The Project, which is near Emirates Hills, envisages construction of a road passing through mega developments like Jebel Ali Race Course, Emirates Hills, Springs, Jumeirah Island, Jumeirah Park and Metro Plots.

The length of road planned under this Phase is 20 km and the execution of the project represents 14% of the total parallel roads construction. The project includes construction of 10 bridges, and 4 underpasses, in addition to several construction activities like utilities, pavement structure, signage, road marking, street lighting, diversion and protection of the existing services.

H.E. Mattar Al Tayer stated that due to the immense nature of the project, it has been divided into nine phases and four contracts have been awarded so far, and construction works are currently underway in two phases. The first contract, which comprises construction of roads at Al Barsha & Al Qoz Industrial, had been awarded to China State Co., and work started in the project in 20 February 2007. This phase, which costs about Dh600 million, extends from Jebel Ali Racecourse up to Muscat Road and extends 13 km at both the Western Parallel Rd and Eastern Parallel Rd.

The Eastern and Western Parallel Roads pass through Barsha residential area and Al Qoz Industrial & residential area. They consist of 3 lanes at each direction, 2 flyover intersections and 17 traffic signal-controlled intersections, in addition to all utility works of irrigation, sewage, lighting, and traffic signs, and directional signs.

Al Tayer added that the contract of Phase II of the Parallel Roads Project, which costs about Dh693 million, has been awarded to Salini Co. The project is located in Zabeel Road and comprises construction of 19 flyovers consisting of precast concrete units extending 4236 meters in length and 14.7 meters in width. It links the terminal point of the Western Parallel Road, prior to Zabeel Road II, and extends as a flyover along the boundary of Zabeel Park till links with Sheikh Rashid Rd near Al Qattaiyat Interchange. Thus it provides a direct link between Al Garhoud Bridge and the Western Parallel Road.

The project, in which construction started on 12 November 2007, encompasses various road works such as pavement, lighting, traffic signals, traffic signs and others. The remaining phases include initial designs and tendering among contractors.