Faster, shorter road to Jebel Jais to come up this year

To fight the traffic congestion on the road to Jebel Jais, the Department of Public Works has decided to build another road to the highest peak of the UAE.
The new will connect Jebel Jais to the Ras Al Khaimah Ring Road, passing by the Wadi Haqeel, said Ahmad Al Sayed, executive director of the Public Works Agency at the Department of Public Works, RAK.
"The new road, being built in line with the directives of His Highness Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah, will give a significant boost to the traffic flow to the top of one of the most famous mountains across the UAE," he said, adding that the construction work of the 7.5km-long road is scheduled to start next week.
"The new road will be a great help, particularly after the Wadi Al Beeh road has been badly affected by the recent showers and rainwater flushing forcefully from four main mountain springs."
The Wadi Haqeel road will be five kilometres shorter than the 13.5km Wadi Al Beeh road leading to the Jebel Jais. "This will reduce the time to reach the popular tourist destination," he said, adding that the new road is to be completed in the beginning of the fourth quarter of this year."
"It will include a traffic lane in each direction to ease patrol vehicles' access to any site along the road which is to be built away from the residential units in the Shamal and Wadi Haqeel areas."
He added that the Wadi Al Beeh Road will be opened for traffic next week after renovation.
"Development and maintenance works are under way to replace the affected layer of pavement and reinforce both sides of the road which were badly affected by the recent showers."
Al Sayed, meanwhile, announced that a new water reservoir will be built at the Wadi Naqb, which is always flooded by the seasonal showers.
"We will increase the number of machinery and workers to finish the project before coming October."
ahmedshaaban@khaleejtimes.com

• UAE
• Ras Al Khaimah