Bigger, better Dubai's MBZ Road opens on Friday

Dubai - About 60 per cent of work in Al Houdh Junction has been completed at a cost of Dh227 million, and the project is set for completion in the last quarter of 2016.

A widened 7km-stretch on Shaikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road will open next Friday, the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has announced.

Accordingly, the number of lanes will double from three to six lanes in each direction along this road extending from Al Maktoum International Airport Rounabout (R/A) to Jebel Ali-Lehbab R/A.

While disclosing the details of the project, Mattar Al Tayer, Director-General and Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of RTA, said that the completion rate had touched 60 per cent in Al Houdh Junction project - between the Shaikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road and Al Yalayis Road - undertaken by the RTA at a cost of Dh227 million, and the project is set for completion in the last quarter of 2016.

Al Houdh Junction Project

Al Houdh Junction Project, which is situated at the western part of Dubai bordering the Arabian Ranches Interchange to the north, and the Trucks Road to the south, is one of the key strategic projects on the Shaikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road.

It encompasses upgrading the existing Al Houdh R/A from a signalised junction into a free flyover accommodating the track of Etihad Rail.

The project also encompasses the widening of the Shaikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road in an 11 km-long sector extending from Al Houdh R/A to the junction leading to Al Maktoum International Airport from three to six lanes in each direction.

The project also includes the construction of a service road on both sides of the Shaikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road of a 4km-long sector extending from Al Khail Road junction to Al Houdh R/A to ease the entry and exist from the neighbouring development projects.

It also includes street lighting works, rainwater drainage, traffic signs, ground markings, and service utility works in the area as needed by service providers.

The project contractor has made a 60 per cent progress in the construction works of the flyover, as well as lighting works and utility lines.

Completion rate has reached 90 per cent in the widening of the road from the R/A of Al Maktoum International Airport to Al Houdh R/A.

Phase II highlights

> Construction of a flyover linking Hessa Road, Al Khail Road and Al Barsha area;

> Flyover comprising three lanes linking traffic coming from Jebel Ali Area through Al Yalayis Road

> Bridge crossing the Emirates Road providing smooth traffic for vehicles coming from Jebel Ali Area heading towards Sharjah

All construction works are expected to be completed and the flyover will be opened in the final quarter of this year.

Flyovers for smooth traffic

Al Tayer explained that RTA had worked out a plan for the traffic diversions of the project to ensure a smooth traffic flow along the roundabout and the connected entry and exit points.

The main traffic diversion will be opened early April 2016 where the traffic on the Shaikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road will be diverted to the roundabout within the flyover area in order to complete road works in the surroundings of the flyover.

The engineering design of the temporary traffic diversions conforms to the specifications of permanent roads including sufficient lighting matching to the design speed of the road to ensure the traffic safety of users. The same number of lanes is maintained in the proposed traffic diversion to ensure a smooth flow of traffic without affecting the traffic volumes and causing congestions.

The Dh227million Al Houdh Junction Project is part of Phase II of the improvement and widening of the Shaikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road Project costing about Dh940 million.

In Phase II, the RTA accomplished the construction of a flyover linking Hessa Road, Al Khail Road and Al Barsha area with the Shaikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road.

This vital junction serves the traffic movement from and to Al Barsha community through the Shaikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road, and provides seamless traffic movement in all directions besides serving communities under development near the junction.

Flyover on Al Houdh R/A opens

The RTA has also opened the flyover passing over Al Houdh R/A on the Shaikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road; which serves the traffic movement from Jebel Ali Port to the Shaikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road in the direction of Dubai.

The flyover comprises three lanes stretching one kilometre linking traffic coming from Jebel Ali Area through Al Yalayis Road with the Shaikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road in the direction of Dubai.

During the mid of last year, the RTA opened the widening and improvement of Al Yalayis Road linking the Shaikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road (at Al Houdh R/A) with the Emirates Road via the Dubai Investment Park (DIP) in a sector stretching 9km and comprising 4 lanes in each direction.

Al Yalayis Road also includes a bridge crossing the Emirates Road providing unimpeded traffic movement for vehicles coming from Jebel Ali Area heading towards Sharjah. Due consideration was given in the project design to avoid clashing with the construction works of Al Etihad Rail project.

Al Yalayis Road constitutes an additional traffic corridor linking the Shaikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road and the Emirates Road running parallel to Jebel Ali-Lehbab Road.

The project would thus play a pivotal role in diverting a huge portion of traffic movement, especially trucks, from the Shaikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road to the Emirates Road.

"The road is expected to be used by about 55,000 vehicles per day, and will have a capacity to handle 6,000 vehicles per hour per direction," said Al Tayer.

reporters@khaleejtimes.com

• Transport