RTA Opens New Sectors of Al Ittihad Road

RTA Opens New Sectors of Al Ittihad Road


Dubai (United Arab Emirates): Roads & Transport Authority opens yesterday (Wednesday 25th Feb) new sectors of Al Ittihad Road Improvement Project (Phase I) for traffic between Dubai and Sharjah. Sectors opened include HQ Tunnel (Galadari) 1 & 2; which serves traffic from Dubai to Sharjah and vice versa, while maintaining the current traffic main stream through the existing tunnels; thus easing traffic flow on this vital corridor.

Opening of this Phase is part of a comprehensive project undertaken by the RTA over two phases. The first phase extends from Shu’la R/A and passes through HQ Tunnel and Mulla Plaza Tunnel, and the second one starts from Shu’la R/A and passes through the Airport Tunnel along Sheikh Rashid Road up to Al Garhoud Bridge. These works, which are part of a master plan to upgrade this vital road that started in early 2007 at a total cost of AED830 million, aim to ease the mobility of road users; thus contribute to realization of RTA vision to provide safe and smooth transport for all.

Engineer Maitha bin Adai, CEO of RTA Traffic & Roads Agency said: “Completing & opening these sectors under Phase I of Al Ittihad Road Improvement Project – which will be fully completed in the second half of next March – will contribute significantly to easing traffic congestion on this key road, particularly during the morning and evening peak hours. We hope for even a better traffic flow upon completion of Phase II of the Project”.

As part of the phased completion of the Project, three bridges have been opened last October under Phase I (Bridges 2, 3 and 4). Bridge 2 serves traffic from Abu Hail Road heading left towards Al Qusais and Sharjah, and Bridge 4 serves traffic coming from Salah Uddin Road heading right to Al Qusais and Sharjah through Bridge 3; which combines the traffic coming from both Salah Uddin and Abu Hail Roads heading towards Al Qusais and Sharjah. Bridge 1 had already been opened in May 2008 to serve traffic from Al Quds Road to Al Ittihad Road.

This Project has a strategic importance as the Road is one of the most congested highways in Dubai and the whole region. It is a key arterial road for traffic between Dubai and the northern emirates. Thus widening this Road contributes to easing tailbacks and adds to the list of vital projects currently being undertaken to improve and upgrade roads and provide advanced services at residential areas. It is part of an integrated network of road widening and improvement projects in Dubai.

The Project also comes in the context of RTA strategy to meet the current and projected roads & transport requirements and develop integrated solutions of road systems as well as surface and marine road networks that are safe for users, in line with the comprehensive development plans and capable of meeting the requirements of demographic growth and expansion in the emirate.