H.H Sheikh Mohammed approves the awarding of contracts on a number of vital projects in Dubai

While reviewing the comprehensive plan of Dubai transit roads he directed the speed of implementation of the project and to increase the capacity of the road to five lanes in each direction.

H.E Mattar Al Tayer, Chairman of the Board and Executive Director, RTA has awarded contracts on a number of projects to reduce the burgeoning traffic conditions. These include the first bridge on Sheikh Zayed road, the project of the floating bridge, and the networks of roads at Al Sofouh area.

Al Tayer said that the costs involved for the construction of the first bridge on interchange 1 of Sheikh Zayed road is AED 617 million. The work will commence on 4th October 2006 and will be completed within thirty months.

This new bridge will ease the traffic movement in all directions, and link Sheikh Zayed Street with the upper and lower roads at Doha Street. The project includes the construction of a tunnel to link the back street of Mazaya center with the back street which is located behind the towers on Sheikh Zayed road, as well as expanding and improving of Al Safa road up to Al Wasel road.

The total length of bridges, which would be implemented in this project, is more than three kilometres, and the lengths of tunnels will be about 850 meters.

The RTA Executive Director said that by awarding this contract the sixth and final stage of the fourth axis contracts will be completed. The sixth stage length over 14 kilometres and extends from the tunnel of Beirut north and ends by the first bridge on Sheikh Zayed Street south. The project also, will provide entry and exit service roads to a number of important projects such as Burj Dubai (Dubai Tower) and Dubai fund and business city.

Floating bridge

The construction of the Floating bridge, worth AED 155 million will start in October 2006 will be completed within 10 months. This bridge consists of a vicious circle of concrete pieces, each with a width of 6 metres and a length of 20 metres that can float on the water's surface.

The floating bridge will accommodate three thousand vehicles in each direction providing a quick solution to alleviate the jams and the traffic congestion especially during the peak morning and evening hours in Dubai. The bridge is located at half a kilometre away south of Al Maktoum Bridge and it extends from the surface intersection near the City Center and Dubai Golf Club (Deira) and ends at the junction that will be set up on Riyadh Street between Dubai Courts and AL Khour Garden. The project will ease congestion by 37% on the Al Maktoum Bridge, which witnesses the traffic flow of more than 150 thousand vehicles daily.

The bridge will have three lines in each direction, an additional track between Khalid Bin Al Walled Street and Oud Maitha Street with al Ittihad road and Deira side will be provided.

Al Tayer said that the bridge will open and close in 20 minutes. The opening and closing times of the bridge will be coordinated with shipment companies and Abras to facilitate and organize the movement of ships and vessels in the Dubai creek.

Improvements of Al Sofouh Roads

HE Mattar Al Tayer has reviewed the works at the project of improving the road network of Al Sofouh, which started on 18th September and will be completed by 30th Jan 2008, involving a total cost of AED: 220 million.

The project which includes a construction of a road to link Al Sofouh with Dubai Marines comprises of a navigation bridge over the waterway. The expansion of the bridge will be from one lane to three lanes in each direction to improve the level of service on the road that links between Dubai Marina and the Jumeirah coast, in addition another road to link between Dubai Marina and Jumeirah beach through the fourth intersection bridge, which is another alternative road to link the Jumeirah beach and Dubai Marina.

Dubai Transit Road

The Chairman of RTA emphasized that the Authority has put the final draft for the project of Dubai transit road as the works on this project will start at the end of the current year. The project includes the expansion of the current part of the Dubai transit road (first and second phases), the road extends 23 kilometres from the borders of the Emirate of Sharjah to Dubai - Al Ain road, the expansion of the street includes two to five lanes in each direction, in order to increase the capacity of the road to accommodate twelve thousand vehicles per hour to serve future projects in the region, which include mainly the city of Jebel Ali Airport and the Dubai Industrial city.

He added that the project also includes the construction of a new road which will be as extension for the third stage of Dubai transit road, which extends from the intersection of Jabel Ali road - Al Hibab north through the intersection with the truck road on the borders with the Emirate of Abu Dhabi south, length of 25 km.

He stressed that the completion of the project with its three phases; first, second and third in December 2007. The Dubai Transit road will be a major hub integrated, extends from Emirate of Sharjah to the borders of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. He added that the project also includes construction of a new road to be added to Dubai Transit Road third phase.