Work on Al Ittihad Road improvement and widening project is almost nearing
completion.
The project, on completion, is hoped to ease traffic congestion between the
Al Garhoud Bridge and Sharjah considerably, even during peak hours.
The Dubai RTA (Roads and Transport Authority) contractors are now completing
the final phase of the project to turn the Al Ittihad Road into an
expressway.
The contractors are now completing work on the interchange and underpasses
located at the junction between Airport Road and Shaikh Rashid Road.
The roads leading to and from Al Garhoud Bridge, towards the Al Ittihad Road
are also undergoing widening to accommodate an eight-lane expressway for Salik
users and motorists commuting between Dubai and Sharjah.
The first phase of the Dh.900mn Al Ittihad Road project was opened last year,
although the work on the project began in December 2006.
The Al Ittihad project first phase included development of an eight-lane
expressway along the 7.5km stretch of road between the Al Nahda Interchange near
Sharjah and Al Garhoud Bridge. The project also includes widening of Al Ittihad
Road from the Sharjah-Dubai border to Airport Road. It also includes
construction of Al Qiyada Interchange (Galadari Intersection) and Al Nahda
Interchange (Al Mulla Intersection).
The work on second phase began in 2007 and was due for completion by late
last year, but it was delayed due to technical issues and heavy traffic flow on
the highway. The second phase will be completed by second quarter of this
year.
An RTA official said that the project is one of the major road projects in
the emirate and aims to ease congestion on the road which offers a vital link
between Dubai and Sharjah.
The first phase opening has already made a difference, and, apart from easing
traffic congestion, the flow of traffic will be smooth when the project is
completely opened.
The capacity of the road will increase from 8000 vehicles per hour to 12,000
in each direction. Over 250,000 vehicles are plying on this road every
day.
According to the official, despite few delays, the project is still on track.
The delays have been due to some unforeseen circumstances. The project is hoped
to significantly contribute towards easing traffic congestion on this major
road, particularly during the peak hours. The flow of traffic will be smoother
after completion of phase 2 of the project. The prominence of such a project
is much more in the traffic congested Dubai. The expansion and improvement of Al
Ittihad Road forms a part of an integrated project approved by H.H. Shaikh
Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Vice President and Prime Minister of UAE and
Ruler of Dubai, aiming to ease traffic and transport infrastructure in Dubai,
said Mattar Al Tayer, Chairman and Executive Director, RTA.
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