Dubai's RTA opens Al Qudra-Lehbab Roads project

Dubai - The RTA has called the Lehbab Road a "strategic traffic corridor"

A new road that lets motorists bypass the Downtown area while heading towards Expo Road, JAFZA and Abu Dhabi and vice-versa has been opened in Dubai. The emirate's Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) on Saturday opened Al Qudra-Lehbab Roads Interchange Development Project, which covered building a flyover providing free traffic in all directions and improving the traffic flow on Al Qudra and Lehbab Roads.
The RTA has called the Lehbab Road a "strategic traffic corridor". Works also included the construction of a separate bridge for cyclists crossing over the road.
Mattar Al Tayer, Director-General and Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of the RTA, said: "The project includes the construction of two bridges on the collector road beside the existing two bridges as well as ramps to serve right, left and U-turns. It provides free traffic in all directions and increases the road capacity to 4,400 vehicles per hour. It will reduce the transit time from Lehbab Road eastward to Al Qudra Road northward by eight minutes, and will also reduce the transit time by four minutes from Lehbab Road westward to Al Qudra Road northward."
The RTA Director-General said Al Qudra Road provides a "key passageway" from Jumeirah to Umm Suqeim Street, which had also been improved by the construction of two bridges of three lanes in each direction.
"The first bridge passes over the Eastern Parallel Road (Al Asayel Street), and the second crosses over the Western Parallel Road (First Al Khail Street). Traffic continues to flow smoothly on the flyover of Al Khail Street and at the interchange of the Arabian Ranches on the Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Road. Traffic will smoothly flow on Al Qudra Bridge, crossing over Emirates Road up to Seih Assalam," said Al Tayer.
Works also cover widening connecting streets, constructing a cycling bridge across the flyover besides carrying out lighting works, rainwater drainage systems, and the shifting and protecting of utility lines.
Multiple phases
The RTA has undertaken improvements of Al Qudra Road over several phases starting with widening the road from one to three lanes in each direction over a 12km stretch from Lehbab intersection to Bab Al Shams roundabout, including the new bridge. Later improvements covered widening two bridges to three lanes in each direction and constructing crossings for vehicles and camels on Al Qudra Road.
"Works also included an 18km cycling track and a rest area fitted with facilities and shops for bike rental and accessories, a fully equipped clinic, cycling gate, rest area, 10 shaded areas and bike racks," Al Tayer added.
reporters@khaleejtimes.com

• Dubai