Dubai’s RTA Unveils a New Bridge on Sheikh Zayed Road Enhancing Traffic Flow
CONSTRUCTION NEWS
In a significant advance towards improving urban mobility, Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) announced the successful inauguration of a new 300-meter-long single-lane bridge on the prominent Sheikh Zayed Road. This infrastructural development, undertaken in partnership with Majid Al Futtaim Properties, is designed to efficiently handle up to 900 vehicles per hour, significantly enhancing access for motorists arriving from Abu Dhabi and the Jebel Ali area to the Mall of the Emirates car parks.
The RTA’s recent statement elucidated that this bridge directly facilitates motorists’ entry, thereby optimizing the flow of traffic in the bustling vicinity of one of Dubai’s premier shopping destinations. Additionally, the project has included the expansion and improvement of surrounding roads, intersections, pedestrian walkways, and cycling tracks that serve the mall, collectively designed to enhance the overall user experience.
Mattar Al Tayer, the Director General and Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of RTA, reiterated the essential role of this project within the broader context of increasing infrastructure support for real estate developments and shopping centers across Dubai. Al Tayer emphasized, “This initiative is a testament to RTA’s ongoing collaboration with our real estate development partners, aimed at enhancing the road network infrastructure that serves property developments and retail hubs. It is vital for improving traffic flow and facilitating seamless mobility for both residents and visitors.”
The construction of the 300-meter single-lane bridge was just one component of a more ambitious undertakings. Enhancements were also made to the southbound ramp at the Umm Suqeim junction and modifications to the junction itself, which significantly improve access for vehicles entering the existing bridge leading to the car parks. The comprehensive project incorporated the upgrading of 2.5 kilometers of at-grade roads surrounding the Mall of the Emirates, accompanied by the development of six signalized intersections to promote safer and more efficient traffic flow.
Further improvements included the redesign of the bus station at the Mall of the Emirates Metro Station, adapting it to better accommodate the increasing flow of commuters and visitors. Moreover, roadways adjacent to landmarks such as the Kempinski Hotel were converted to a two-way system, facilitating greater flexibility for drivers.
Importantly, structural upgrades also encompassed enhancements to pedestrian and cycling tracks, alongside improvements in road paving, lighting, traffic signals, stormwater drainage, and landscaping. Al Tayer highlighted that these enhancements have significantly reduced travel time for motorists traversing from Abu Dhabi and Jebel Ali to the Mall of the Emirates—from a cumbersome ten minutes to an efficient one minute.
Laying the groundwork for future developments, Al Tayer disclosed that the next pertinent project for the RTA will be the Umm Suqeim Street Improvement Project. This initiative aims to extend 6 kilometers from its junction with Jumeirah Street to its junction with Al Khail Road. The upgrade will involve enhancements to six key junctions along Umm Suqeim Street, effectively connecting it with vital thoroughfares including Jumeirah Street, Al Wasl Street, Sheikh Zayed Road, First Al Khail Street, and Al Asayel Street.
The scope of work within this extensive project will feature the construction of four bridges and two tunnels, totaling a combined length of approximately 3,450 meters. Noteworthy among these constructions will be a tunnel at the junction of Umm Suqeim Street and Jumeirah Street, designed to incorporate two lanes in each direction alongside a signalized at-grade junction.
Moreover, another tunnel will be established at the junction of Umm Suqeim Street and Al Wasl Street, facilitating two lanes of traffic flowing from Sheikh Zayed Road towards Jumeirah Street while assuring an uninterrupted flow of vehicles on surface streets towards Sheikh Zayed Road. The anticipated development also includes two constructed bridges at the junction of Umm Suqeim Street and Sheikh Zayed Road, devised to alleviate existing traffic congestion.
These enhancements are pivotal, as Dubai continually expands its urban footprint and seeks innovative solutions to meet the increasing demands of its population. The RTA’s commitment to ongoing infrastructure improvement promises not only to foster better connectivity but also to elevate the quality of life for all who traverse its vibrant metropolitan landscape.
-TradeArabia News Service
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