Trucks banned from Zayed Tunnel

The Abu Dhabi Traffic and Patrols Directorate has installed 15 more radars on some of the main roads of the Capital to control speed, and banned the entry of heavy vehicles to the city’s 3.6km-long Shaikh Zayed Tunnel starting from Mina Road to Shaikh Zayed Street.

According to the directorate, all kinds of heavy vehicles will be permanently banned from entering the tunnel, which is the longest in the Middl East built, at a cost of Dh4.8 billion, which connects Port Zayed and Corniche to Zayed Bridge at Umm Al Nar, from today.

The department also said the 15 new radars will start functioning today on some of the main roads and tunnels of the city.

“Shaikh Zayed Tunnel will be closed for heavy vehicles shuttling between Mina Zayed and rest of the emirate from tomorrow. The decision has been taken for safety measures. Also, 15 new radars will be functioning to control speed along Arabian Gulf Street, at tunnels, including Shaikh Zayed and Baynunah tunnels, and streets close to residential areas where the speed limit is between 60kmph and 80kmph,” said Captain Ahmed Al Muhairi, Head of Traffic Safety at the directorate on Monday.

Seven of the radars are along Arabian Gulf Street and Baynunah Tunnel, seven along Shaikh Zayed Street (formerly Salam Street) from Shaikh Zayed Tunnel and then to Eastern Ring Road, while one is at Al Raha Beach Road.

“The new measures are part of the emirate’s road safety strategy as well as controlling the traffic flow in the capital city and its suburbs. These measures will reduce traffic accidents and human casualties,” he added.

About the closure of heavy vehicles’ entry to tunnels, he said all vehicles weighing two tonnes or above cannot enter any of the tunnels in the city and its suburbs. He also said alternative routes already exist for these heavy vehicles close to the tunnels.

nissar@khaleejtimes.com