28 October 2007

Sharjah: Motorists in Sharjah will continue to suffer from traffic congestion for at least three more years until the completion of some major ongoing road projects.

"Sharjah is currently carrying out Dh732 million road projects to ease traffic congestion on the city's most congested roads," said Engineer Nasser Mahfouz, Head of Road Planning and Transportation Section at the Directorate of Town Planning and Survey.

He said the construction of a double-deck road on parts of Al Wahda Street is also currently under way.

Other road improvement projects include expansion of King Abdul Aziz Road and the construction of the Sharjah Ring Road in different phases in addition to improvement of internal roads in the congested city centre area.

"We are also conducting studies for an extensive network of public transport to provide alternative modes of transport," Mahfouz said.

"Two major road projects are currently being undertaken to ease traffic flow in the congested areas of the city," said Mahfouz.

He told Gulf News in an interview that the projects would reduce congestion in the city and ensure smooth traffic flow.

Mahfouz also revealed that studies are being conducted for the extensive network of public transport to provide alternative means of travel.

Key projects

He asked motorists to bear with road diversions because they are necessary for the development work. "Residents will see the difference in traffic flow within a few years," he said.

Two major road projects currently being carried out include expansion of Al Wahda Street and the development of King Abdul Aziz Street.

"Work on the second phase of King Abdul Aziz Street and the fifth phase of Al Wahda Street development have already started. The projects cost Dh732 million," he said.

The Dh477 million Al Wahda Road project will turn one of the city's most congested roads into a double-deck expressway.

Junctions and roundabouts on Al Wahda Road will have flyovers, tunnels and bridges. Currently about 110,000 vehicles use Al Wahda Road every day.

A 1.6 km double deck road will be built between King Faisal Interchange and the Gold Centre intersection (junction at Al Wahda Street and Al Qasimi Road).

The elevated part will have two lanes in each direction. It will allow the free flow of traffic along Al Wahda Street, bypassing the congested junctions at Abu Shagara and the Gold Centre.

Another part of the double-deck road will pass over the Flying Saucer Roundabout (Shaikh Hameed Bin Saqr Al Qasimi Square) allowing free flow for motorists travelling along Al Wahda Street to bypass the junction.

The present roundabout will be replaced by an intersection with signals for all other traffic.

Once completed, Al Wahda Street will be an expressway allowing free flow of traffic through the centre of the city.

The current King Abdul Aziz Road next to King Faisal Mosque will be reconstructed and connect the new road that will cross Sharjah Creek via a new bridge towards Al Layyeh.

The project consists of five phases. The first four phases comprises multiple roads divided into three lanes in both directions, and will be 14 kilometres long. It will have 13 intersections in the form of bridges and tunnels to ease traffic congestion.

"The new King Abdul Aziz Road project is vital to minimise the traffic congestion in the middle of the city and in the industrial areas," said Mahfouz. "I think we will see the difference within five years."

By Eman Mohammed

© Gulf News 2007. All rights reserved.