RTA opens today (Saturday) Phase 1 of Umm Suqeim Rd Widening Project

RTA opens today (Saturday) Phase 1 of Umm Suqeim Rd Widening Project

§  The project comprises the construction of 2 bridges costing AED167m

§  Al Tayer: The project provides free traffic movement between Sh Zayed Rd, Sh Mohammed bin Zayed Rd

Roads & Transport Authority – Mohammed Al Munji:

The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) inaugurated today (Saturday) 28 December Phase I of Umm Suqeim Road Widening & Improvement Project in the direction from Al Khail Road to Sheikh Zayed Road, and plans to open on 07 January 2014 Phase II of the project in the opposite direction from the Sheikh Zayed Road to Al Khail Road, with all remaining works of the project to be completed by the end of February 2014. The opening of Phase I of the project will coincide with the opening of 3 rustic-design footbridges to ensure smooth and safe pedestrian crossing from Al Qouz to Al Barsha and vice-versa crossing Umm Suqeim Road.

The project comprises the construction of two bridges of three lanes in each direction; the first crossing the Eastern Parallel Road 'Asayil Road, and the second crosses the Western Parallel Road 'Al Khail Road 1'. The Project also encompasses the construction of two signalized junctions at the intersection of 'Asayil Road and Al Khail Road 1, such that these intersections will enable smooth turns in all directions when opened.

HE Mattar Al Tayer, Chairman of the Board and Executive Director of the RTA, is delighted with the completion of this vital project which will provide free traffic movement for vehicles coming from the Sheikh Zayed Road, passing through Al Khail Road interchange, Arabian Ranches interchange and heading towards Al Qudra Road, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road (in both directions to Abu Dhabi or Sharjah); and in the opposite direction from the Arabian Ranches interchange to Jumeirah through the interchanges of Al Khail Road and the Sheikh Zayed Road.”

"The project, he added, involves the construction of a service road and car parks on both sides of the road to serve commercial outlets at Al Barsha and Al Qouz Industrial areas, besides addressing the safety levels by providing pavements, two signalized pedestrian crossings and other essential services such as lighting and rainwater drainage."

Al Tayer praised the efforts of the work team and engineers of the Traffic and Roads Agency as well as the staffs of construction firms who have worked tirelessly to deliver the project on the timeline set by RTA.

The Chairman of the Board and Executive Director of the RTA further added, "The completion of Umm Suqeim Road Improvement & Widening Project coincided also with the completion of Al Khail Road Improvement & Widening Project; which is one of the giant & vital roads construction projects undertaken by the RTA, costing about one billion and 925 million dirhams. Due to its massive scope, the project was divided into four phases, and the RTA opened at the beginning of this year the last phase of this vital project which represents an extension of the Business Bay Crossing. On 4 January 2013 the RTA opened the last interchange of Al Khail Road Project, which included the construction of a new bridge on the Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road to provide free vehicular traffic movement in all directions. The project also included the construction of two interchanges; the first of which links the Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road with Al Khail Road, and the other serves traffic in the opposite direction. It also included increasing the number of lanes from four to six in each direction on the Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road and Al Khail Road, in addition to other works related to signals, traffic signs and other services.

"At the end of September 2011, the RTA opened the lane-widening of the Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road, and in April last year it opened the sloping turns of bridges stretching from Al Khail Road to Dubai, and from Abu Dhabi to Al Khail Road. By the end of August 2014, the RTA will open the sloping turns of bridges that serve the traffic from Dubai to Al Khail Road, and from Al Khail Road to Abu Dhabi along the Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road.

Last November, the RTA fully opened Phase II of the project with a cost tag of AED 762 million comprising the construction of two new flyovers on Al Khail Road to ensure free traffic flow in all directions, instead of the two roundabouts at the intersection of Al Khail Road, Street No. 319 and Street No. 323 at Al Qouz residential & industrial areas. It also includes the widening of Al Khail Road from four to six lanes in each direction in addition to the ongoing construction works in an elevated ramp coming from Al Qouz heading​​ towards Al Khail Road. The project also includes other different road works such as pavement, lighting, light signals, and signage works in addition to works related to traffic diversions, shifting some of the existing utilities intercepting the project's work and the provision of new utility lines needed for the completion of the project," continued Al Tayer.

"The opening of Phase II contributed to a smooth traffic flow on Al Khail Road, and eased bottlenecks in traffic coming from ​​Al Qouz heading towards Al Khail Road by constructing an elevated traffic corridor serving vehicles coming from Al Qouz heading towards Dubai. It also provided smooth traffic flow at the  interchanges with Al Khail Road on the one hand, and the Street No. 323 and 319 on the other hand, besides streamlining the movement of trucks and heavy vehicles at intersection No. 19," added RTA Chairman of the Board and Executive Director.

“The RTA opened Phase III of Al Khail Road Widening Project in January 2013 which saw the widening of Al Khail Road from four to six lanes in each direction, past the intersection of Umm Suqeim Road up to the intersection of the Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road, as well as modifying the curves at Interchange 13.

"The RTA had also opened most key sectors of Phase IV of Al Khail Road Widening Project, costing about AED 307 million, and encompassing replacing the roundabout at the junction of Al Khail Road and Umm Suqeim Road with a multi-tier interchange to provide free traffic flow in all directions. The project also comprised widening of Al Khail Road from four to six lanes in each direction and shifting as well as protecting the utility lines & facilities impacted by the interchange," concluded Al Tayer.

Captions:

-        Mattar Al Tayer inspects the project’s readiness for opening

-        New bridges offer smooth traffic flow

-        Layout of Phase I of the project to be opened