RTA awards a Dhs575m contract of the first stage of Al Khail Rd improvement

The Project is part of the 6-Phase Al Khail Road Improvement Project, which is one of the biggest road projects under way, as part of RTA's efforts to eliminate traffic jams in the emirate of Dubai.

"This project is part of RTA's drive to upgrade key road networks in the emirate and is a strategically important road corridor within the structural road network plan in the emirate of Dubai. RTA efforts are gathering pace to develop and widen key and arterial roads in Dubai within the overall strategy of the RTA to cope with the expanding urban development witnessed by the Emirate.

"The Project, which has been awarded to Emirates Road Contracting Co. after submitting the best offer among four bidders, consists of a multi-level interchange at the junction of Al Khail Road and Emirates Road, besides six bridges to ensure seamless traffic flow in all directions. The project is modelled on a full clover leaf and two direct bridges to allow for left turn.

"The Project is quite important as Emirates and Al Khail Roads are two vital traffic hubs in Dubai channelling intensive traffic flow. Moreover, there are several property developments in the neighbourhood such Jumeirah Village South, Dubai Sports City and the International Media Production Zone (IMPZ). RTA pays particular attention to associated traffic diversions to ensure minimum traffic disturbance on Emirates and Al Khail Roads.

"Al Khail Road is one of the key roads parallel to Sheikh Zayed Road and Emirates Road over and above Parallel Roads Project underway. Al Khail Road starts from Bu Kadrah Interchange (Interchange of Oud Maitha - Al Khor Roads) and terminates at Emirates Road. It consists of four lanes in each direction and four roundabouts which will be transformed into flyover interchanges enabling free traffic in all directions," said Al Tayer.

This Project is part of RTA's Strategic Plan up to the year 2015, which partially focuses on developing a road network to cope with the traffic flow resulting from a projected 6% annual increase in Dubai population.

Moreover, private vehicles ownership is forecasted to rise by 17% and the number of personal trips is also envisaged to rise during the morning peak hours from 350 thousand trips per day to 1.5 million trips per day by 2020.

RTA budgeted around Dhs45bn to construct a number of roads and bridges projects that cover construction of key roads, ring roads around population and traffic centers, multi-tier intersections and crossings over Dubai Creek.

To cope with traffic congestion, RTA's Plan is adopting integrated solutions to upgrade road networks and Creek Crossings. The Plan also envisages developing all modes of mass transit systems such as trains, trams, buses, marine transport modes and introducing technological traffic and traffic systems to achieve optimum utilization and highest efficiency of roads and transport system.

Additionally, the Plan calls for introduction of a package of policies to minimize semi-total reliance by the public on private vehicles through boosting their usage and dependence on other mass transport modes car pooling and other relevant solutions.