The emirate has started work to convert King Abdul Aziz Road into a free expressway in order to ease traffic flow in the heart of the city, said a senior official.
Extension and expansion of the Kind Abdul Aziz Road - commonly known as Old Airport Road - with a number of interchanges and access roads at a total cost of Dh586 million is part of Sharjah’s ambitious road network programme to improve highway infrastructure in the city to cope with the increasing traffic rush.
The first phase of the project, The Sharjah Ring Road, was opened in June.
“The second phase of the network project is the extension of the King Abdul Aziz Road up to the Sharjah-Kalba Road to the West of the Sharjah University City,” said Engineer Khawla Al Nooman, Director General of Directorate of Public Works in Sharjah.
Starting near the University City, the new road will pass through Industrial areas Nos 16, 14, 13 and 12 with a cloverleaf intersection over the Emirates Road - Sharjah Ring Road.
All the roundabouts, signals and constructions in the industrial area will be removed for free movement of cars on this road.
People will be able to join or leave the road without any hassle while motorists joining the road from Layyah and other parts of town will be able to use this road as a freeway access to the Emirates Highway, while on their way to Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Ras Al Khaimah and East coast areas. This road will be spinal cord of the city.
The road will connect with the existing King Abdul Aziz Road, which will be extended up to King Faisal Road and then be linked with Al Layah area through a new bridge over the Sharjah Creek.
Layyah area is now the centre of all the major government departments and the also the Sharjah Ports.
Al Nooman said the new project will considerably reduce travel time and congestion in the city. The road will be 14km long with 13 interchanges.
Construction for the first phase of the construction of the King Abdul Aziz Road will begin soon and is expected to be completed by mid 2007.
During the first phase, 5km of the three-lane dual carriage way will be built with three interchanges.
Gulf News
