The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has started work on the initial phase of the main traffic diversion on Sheikh Zayed Road for the construction of Dubai Canal.
The work will be in the Abu Dhabi direction near the intersection for Safa Park.
The RTA said the diversion, which is set to be completed by the end of next October, will stretch 1km and will maintain the same number as the existing lanes.
"Parallel to this, the RTA will be starting construction works on the northern bridge in the direction of Dubai on the Sheikh Zayed Road nearby the metro line after routing the traffic movement directly to the traffic diversion."
Work on the Dubai Water Canal Project, as it is formally known, has been split into three phases; the first comprises the construction of bridges across the canal on the Sheikh Zayed Road consisting of eight lanes in each direction. The bridges will rise 8m to allow free navigation in the canal round-the-clock.
The second phase includes the construction of bridges across the canal on theJumeirah and Al Wasl roads spanning three lanes on the Jumeirah Road and two lanes on Al Wasl Road in each direction, in addition to a flyover from Al Wasl Road to Al Hadiqa Road in the direction of the Sheikh Zayed Road as well as diverting the existing utility lines, and carrying out necessary traffic diversions.
The third phase encompasses the drilling of a 3.2km-long canal, landfilling works of the island, constructing sea wall around the island to prepare the sand beach, building marina for boats and the water bus, and constructing three pedestrian bridges above the canal to link the Jumeirah Beach Walk with Safa Park Walk.
Maitha bin Udai, CEO of the RTA's Traffic and Roads Agency, said: "The Abu Dhabi-bound traffic stream will be routed to the new traffic diversion, while maintaining the traffic movement outbound from Abu Dhabi on the Sheikh Zayed Road by diverting it to the lanes currently directed towards Abu Dhabi.
© 7Days 2014
