RTA awards Dhs705m contract of Rashid Hospital Underpasses project

This contract is part of an integrated project through which RTA is aspiring to curb traffic congestion in the vicinity of Rashid Hospital, and improve traffic flow in the area. It is envisaged that the intake of roads in the area will rise to 6000 vehicles per hour upon completion of the project.

Al Tayer said:

"The project involves constructions of roads and two underpasses, each consisting of two lanes, to serve the traffic flow from Tariq bin Ziyad & Umm Hurir roads towards the junction of Al Riyadh Road with the extension of the Floating Bridge. The first underpass extends from Tariq bin Ziyad Road and passes underneath Al Maktoum Bridge, while the second underpass extends from Umm Harir Road across Oud Metha Park, then the two underpasses converge forming a 4-lane underpass towards Al Riyadh Road across Rashid Hospital."

"The junction of Al Riyadh Road with the extension of the Floating Bridge will be transformed into a 4-way junction. The project also includes widening of Tariq bin Ziyad Road, as well as improvements of both Oud Metha and Umm Harir roads. A service road will be constructed to serve traffic outbound from the Floating Bridge towards Tariq bin Ziyad Road," added Al Tayer.

He continued that RTA has undertaken a number of projects in the area to ease traffic congestion and boost roads intake to match the growing urban and traffic expansion. RTA constructed the Floating Bridge, which lies half a kilometer from Al Maktoum Bridge. This 6-lanes bridge extends from the intersection near Deira City Center & Dubai Golf Club and terminates at the junction to be constructed at Al Riyadh Road. The project included diversions and measures to enhance the efficiency of intersections near Al Riyadh Road. Roundabouts towards the Creek Park have been transformed into light signal-controlled intersections. The project generated an extra lane between Khalid bin Al Waleed Road and Oud Metha from one side, and Al Ittihad Road & Deira from another.

RTA also widened Al Maktoum Bridge from 9 to 11 lanes. This project involved widening of roads leading & linking up with the Bridge, while the entrance of the Bridge from Umm Harir Road had also been widened from two to three lanes. This boosted the intake and cut short tailbacks from Sheikh Zayed Road towards Deira. Related works also included improvement of Khalid bin Al Waleed Road to ease the pressure on this vital corridor and ensure smooth flow of traffic outbound to Deira. Improvements & widening works of the Bridge also included increasing the number of lanes from Deira to Bur Dubai from four to six lanes throughout the Bridge.

The Chairman & Executive Director of the RTA further added: "RTA is proceeding ahead with development of a number of key roads in the city of Dubai, as part of the vital projects currently undertaken with a view to improve roads and provide superb services at residential areas. Such a drive forms a part of RTA strategy & relentless efforts to keep pace with the fast-moving urban growth, and meet the requirements of development & demographic expansion in the emirate."