Rashid Hospital Tunnels to open next June

The Dh722-million Rashid Hospital Tunnels project will be open for traffic on June 30, 2013 and is currently 75 per cent complete, according to Mattar Al Tayer, Chairman of the Board & Executive Director of the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA).

Construction of Rashid Hospital Tunnels under progress. — Supplied photo

“The Rashid Hospital Tunnels is being constructed as part of an integrated project through which the RTA is seeking to reduce traffic congestions in the vicinity of Rashid Hospital, and raise the traffic flow in the area. The total capacity of roads located within the project domain is poised to rise upon the project completion to 6,000 vehicles per hour,” said Al Tayer.

“The project contractor has finalised all infrastructure works related to Dewa, sewage system, and Etisalat. Construction works have also been completed in vehicles and pedestrians underpass, whereas completion rate has almost clocked 70 per cent in storm-water drainage works, more than 95 per cent in tunnel electromechanical works, and almost 60 per cent in road works, light signals and street lighting. Over the next few weeks, the RTA will open the surface roads linking with Al Riyadh Street and Oud Maitha Street, and the step is poised to streamline the traffic flow and ease vehicular congestion in the area between Al Riyadh and Oud Maitha Streets.”

RTA has undertaken several projects in this area of Bur Dubai to eliminate tailbacks and enhance roads capacity to keep pace with the urbanisation and traffic growth rates. The authority constructed the Floating Bridge, just half a kilometre off Al Garhoud Bridge, which comprises six lanes stretching from the surface intersection near City Center and Dubai Golf Club in Deira and terminates at the intersection to be constructed on Al Riyadh Street.

The RTA has also widened Al Maktoum Bridge from nine to 11 lanes, and the streets in the approaches of the bridge from two to three lanes to handle the traffic inbound from Umm Harir Street.

Al Tayer stated that the RTA is following up the improvement works on several main roads in Dubai city as part of a series of vital projects being constructed to improve roads and provide advanced services at residential districts.

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