Phase II of the Upper Deck of the Financial Center Road to Open Mid of April – RTA

Phase II of the Upper Deck of the Financial Center Road to Open Mid of April – RTA

60% of the 1st Interchange of Sheikh Zayed Road Completed

Roads & Transport Authority – Mohammed Al Munji:

H.E. Mattar Al Tayer, Chairman of the Board and Executive Director of Roads & Transport Authority (RTA), announced that Phase II of the Upper Deck of Financial Center Road Project; an elevated bridge considered the first of its kind in the region, would be opened for traffic coming from Al Khail Road and Business Bay Road in the second half of next April.

Al Tayer made these comments during a tour that covered the Upper Deck of the Financial Center Road and the 1st Interchange of Sheikh Zayed Road to inspect the work progress and ensure projects completion was on schedule.

“Motorists coming from the Business Bay Road and Al Khail Road can drive through the Upper Deck of the Financial Center Road, and from there they can go right towards Sheikh Zayed Road to the direction of Trade Center R/A, or continue to drive towards Jumeirah across Safa Road, and from there they can access Sheikh Zayed Road heading to Jebel Ali and Abu Dhabi” said Al Tayer. He stated that the opening the Upper Deck of the Financial Center Road would improve the traffic flow on Sheikh Zayed Road, particularly in the approaches of the 1st Interchange of Sheikh Zayed Road, and would also ease the congestion at the Commercial Center R/A.

Al Tayer praised the performance of the Japanese Taisei Corp. undertaking construction of Upper Deck of the Financial Center Road Project; a key phase of Ras Al Khor Project. He directed to accelerate the opening of the underpass linking the traffic flow from Dubai World Trade Center with Burj Dubai area, as well as the underpass linking Zabeel with Burj Dubai and Dubai Holding projects.

“The Financial Center Road Project entails construction of a flyover across Doha Road, consisting of three lanes in the direction of Jumeirah and five lanes in the opposite direction, at a cost of Dh605 million. The project aims to enhance the efficiency of traffic flow of Doha Road, and accommodate the traffic volumes generated by the new property developments such as Burj Dubai, Dubai Mall, Business Bay, and Dubai International Financial Center. It is envisaged that the Project will inject an intake of more than 16,000 vehicles per hour in both directions of the existing road. It includes an elevated interchange enabling traffic flow in and out of the New Ras Al Khor hub. To supplement roads network in the area, two underpasses have been added to ensure seamless traffic flow on the eastern & western parallel roads at the intersection with Doha Road” added Al Tayer.

The Chairman of the RTA completed his site tour by inspecting the work progress in the 1st Interchange of Sheikh Zayed Road Project; one of the biggest flyovers undertaken by the RTA. This contract envisages construction of bridges extending more than 3 km and underpasses extending about 850 meters. The cost of the Project, which is constructed by the Italian Salini Co., is Dh617 dirham.

Al Tayer announced that completion rate in this project has exceeded 60%. The new interchanges allow for free traffic flow in all directions of the project which links Sheikh Zayed Road with the upper & lower decks of the Financial Center Road. It also includes construction of an underpass to link the road passing behind Mazaya Center with the road passing behind the towers overlooking Sheikh Zayed Road. Moreover, it covers widening of Al Safa Road, and improving interchanges thereon up to Al Wasl Road.

This Project completes the 6th and Final Phase of Ras Al Khor Contracts; spanning 14 km of roads starting from Beirut underpass in the north and terminating at the 1st Interchange of Sheikh Zayed Road.

Al Tayer directed the Contractor to add more efforts to complete construction works in the interchange such that it is synchronized with the completion of the main works in the Upper Deck of the Financial Center Road. He also directed to maintain the highest standards of occupational health in all work sites.

Al Tayer concluded to say: “These projects come in the context of RTA strategy to keep pace with the urbanization drive and meet the needs of the current and projected demographic growth and expansion of advanced roads and transport network. This will match the transitional phase witnessed by Dubai; which is shaping into a premier cosmopolitan city, an international hub for tourists, visitors and businessmen from all corners of the globe, and a key regional & international center for conventions, forums and expos. This in turn warrants sustained development and efforts to upkeep the profile of the city to live up to such high billing.