Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) is set to start work on a major project linking Jumeirah district with Al Khail Road and the Parallel Roads at a cost of Dh800 million ($218 million). It is due to be completed in the first quarter of 2019.

The RTA move comes following the approval from Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum for the strategic project.

The scope of work includes the construction of a flyover at the intersection of Latifa Bint Hamdan Street and the First Al-Khail Street in addition to a signalised surface junction under the bridge.

It also includes improvement of the intersection of Umm Al-Sheef Street and Al-Wasl Street and main surface roads, service roads in addition to landscaping works alongside SZR between Al Safa and Al Manara Interchanges, and along Umm Al-Sheef Street, Latifa Bint Hamdan Street and Al Zommorud Street, said the statement from RTA.

The project is part of RTA’s master plan to improve the network of roads, bridges, underpasses and crossings to accommodate growing traffic volumes, and ease mobility in various parts of Dubai.

It also complements RTA’s strategic plan for improving vertical traffic corridors such as the Airport Street, Tripoli Street, Al Yalayes Street and Al Asayel Street, it added.

Unveiling the details, Mattar Al Tayer, the director-general and chairman of the board of executive directors of the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), said: "The first contract has been awarded to China State Company and it will cover the construction of Latifa Bint Hamdan Street and Umm Al-Sheef Street from Al-Safa Interchange (2nd I/C) to Al-Manara Interchange on the Sheikh Zayed Road (3rd I/C)."

"The project will link Jumeirah with Al Khail Road and Parallel Roads (First Al Khail Road and Al Asayel Road) through two-level roads & bridges offering free traffic flow," explained Al Tayer.

"Vehicles will then move seamlessly from Umm Al-Sheef St. to Al Wasl St., Sheikh Zayed Road (SZR) and up to Latifa Bint Hamdan St. Traffic will also flow freely from Al-Zommorrud St. eastward to SZR. The two bridges will be linked with the SZR through bridges offering free exits," he noted.

"The new bridges to be constructed above and underneath the route of the Dubai Metro Red Line will have no impact on the operation of the metro," he added.

According to him, the project also includes the construction of a flyover at the intersection of Latifa Bint Hamdan St. and the First Al-Khail St. in addition to a signalised surface junction under the bridge.

"It also includes improvement of the intersection of Umm Al-Sheef St. and Al-Wasl St. and main surface roads, service roads in addition to landscaping works alongside SZR between Al-Safa and Al-Manara Interchanges, and along Umm Al-Sheef St., Latifa Bint Hamdan St. and Al-Zommorud St," he added.

The second contract has been awarded to the National Contracting Company and it will cover the link between SZR & Al Khail Road and Jumeirah to the west and DubaiLand to the east. It also includes the improvement of Al Quoz entrances as well as several development projects.

"The project covers improvements of the existing road from the Interchange of First Al Khail Road (currently under construction as part of the improvement of Umm Al Sheef-Latifa Bint Hamdan Streets junction Project at the SZR) to the Interchange of Al Khail Road," remarked Al Tayer.

Improvement works will cover all intersections along this three km-sector. Improvement works will also extend to the intersection of Al Asayel-Latifa Bint Hamdan Streets to transform it from a surface signalised junction into a multi-level interchange.

The works under the first contract of the project will be completed in the first half of 2018, while the second contract will be ready in the first quarter of 2019, he added.-TradeArabia News Service