Partially-closed road in RAK opens after 2 years

Ras Al Khaimah - Third lane of the Shaikh Mohammed bin Zayed road opened for traffic to ease congestion and boost traffic flow.

Much to the relief of motorists heading from Ras Al Khaimah to Umm Al Quwain and Ajman, a third lane of an arterial road was opened on Tuesday, after two years' partial closure.
The RAK Police, in collaboration with the Department of Public Works and Services, opened the third lane of the Shaikh Mohammed bin Zayed road for traffic to ease congestion and boost flow.
Colonel Ahmed Saeed Al Sam Al Naqbi, Acting Director-General of the Traffic and Patrols Department, RAK Police, said too much rush has been reported on the major highway, mainly in the morning. "The road expansion will be helpful in this regard," Colonel Ahmed said.
Eng Ahmed Al Hammadi said a specialised local contracting company has been assigned to pave the 14kilometre part of the road - 7km in each direction, following a public tender.
"The third lane starts from the Etihad Roundabout in the direction of Umm Al Quwain."
The Ministry of Public Works has already completed the maintenance work of the 44km long road he added. The critical maintenance, carried out as per the latest international standards, has significantly improved the performance of the major road that connects almost all the emirates of the country, he noted. "The third lane planned will boost traffic flow on the roads of the booming emirate."
Sherif Abdulqader, a driver, said: "Traffic congestion will be history after the opening of the third lane."
Adel Marwan, a teacher, said the new expansion will somehow put an end to perilous overhauling as the road narrows into two lanes over the last 7km.
"Such risky overtaking are mostly done by the drivers aware of the road."
ahmedshaaban@khaleejtimes.com

New diversion on UAQ-RAK Emirates road
Drivers heading from Umm Al Quwain to Ras Al Khaimah need to be cautious after a road diversion has been put in place on the Emirates road connecting the two emirates. The diversion will be in place for 40 days.
The 16.5km arterial road will be developed at a cost of Dh142 million, according to a top official at the Ministry of Public Works. Ahmed Al Hammadi, manager of roads affairs at the ministry, on Tuesday said the road works will be completed by the end of the first quarter of this year.
The project will connect Al Aqran area in Umm Al Quwain to the intersection of Al Twain area Ras Al Khaimah - which has now been renamed as the Martyrs road, he added.
ahmedshaaban@khaleejtimes.com

• Ras Al Khaimah