Sunday, May 13, 2012
Gulf News
Dubai Motorists using Al Khail Road will have a smooth run starting next year as all the major interchanges and bridges being built to replace the roundabouts will open by the end of this year.
“Some 88 to 96 per cent of the work on various interchanges and bridges has been completed and they will be opened to traffic by the end of this year,” Mattar Al Tayer, chairman of the board and executive director of the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), said.
The RTA is carrying out the Al Khail Road widening and improvement project at a cost of Dh1.925 billion, replacing the roundabouts and increasing the number of lanes.
Al Tayer said that all construction would be completed by the first half of 2013 with the opening of some auxiliary bridges. The project is being carried out in four phases.
Support corridor
Al Khail Road is a key road parallel to Shaikh Zayed Road and Emirates Road. It starts from Bu Kadrah Interchange (interchange of Oud Metha-Al Khor Roads) and ends at Emirates Road near Jebel Ali.
Its importance is underscored by the fact that it represents an expansion of the Business Bay Crossing, providing a vital link to different parts of the city. It consists of four lanes in each direction and four roundabouts. The project includes widening of the road from the present four to six lanes in each direction and replacing the roundabouts with free-flow interchanges.
It is one of the biggest road project currently being undertaken by the RTA. Work on the first phase started in May 2008.
Through this project, RTA intends to provide corridors supporting Shaikh Zayed Road and Emirates Road, which carry high traffic volumes. Al Khail Road is the best alternative route for motorists who do not want to pay the Salik toll on Shaikh Zayed Road.
In view of the massive size of the project, RTA split it into six phases. Work is now ongoing on four phases while the other two have not yet been announced.
Staff Report
Gulf News 2012. All rights reserved.
