27 February 2008

Sharjah: Al Wahda Road, the busiest highway in Sharjah, is expected to be closed as the largest road network project in Sharjah reaches its second stage, said a senior official on Tuesday.

Sulaiman Al Hajri, Head of Road Department at Public Works Department said: "The Public Works Department is making great efforts in improving the infrastructure and public premises to reach the goal of high international standards, which is achieved by many advanced countries in terms of economy, tourism and sociological aspects."

Detours

The road will be closed from King Faisal Roundabout up to Gold Centre Intersection. Part of the road is already closed.

Motorists are advised to take alternative roads as road diversions are being put in place.

Al Hajri told Gulf News that 15 per cent of the work has already been completed at Al Tabiq Al Tayer roundabout, and 10 per cent has been completed at the Cultural Square roundabout.

The Al Wahda Road project was started in March 2006 at a total cost of Dh2.1 billion, and is expected to be completed by 2010.

The project is the largest and most vital project in the emirate, according to Al Hajri, who said the ongoing work involves construction of two bridges and replacement of roundabouts.

Currently the work is being carried out during the day, he said adding that it will soon become round-the-clock.

Intersections

The Al Wahda Road Project includes the improvement of all intersections along the street and its bridges to allow the ease of traffic movement towards King Abdul Aziz Roundabout in Abu Shagara and the intersection of Shaikh Juma'a in Al Yarmook and Tabiq Al Tayer, which ends with a tunnel in Cultural Square.

He did not give a time frame when the road will be reopened. "We will announce it later," he said.

The second phase of the project also includes expanding a number of alternate roads, including Green Belt and Wasit roads.

Al Hajri said the department has set up a comprehensive plan in order to achieve the project without affecting the traffic flow, by using temporary intersections and safe detours to avoid congestion during the closure of Al Wahda Road.

The Public Works Department aims to provide a high standard of quality for projects and to provide the necessary safety for residents through the road network improvement project.

Al Hajri said the projects will help cope with Sharjah's rapid growth, in terms of population and real estate development.

As part of the Al Wahda project, many internal roads have also been paved. Works that have been carried out in the past six months includes the conversion of nine roundabouts into traffic-light operated intersections to improve traffic flow in areas close to the Al Wahda project.

The project is the largest and most vital project in the emirate and the ongoing work involves construction of two bridges and replacement of roundabouts.

By Mariam M. Al Serkal

Gulf News 2008. All rights reserved.