Wafi Interchange to open in April.

Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) said about 65 per cent of the construction work at Wafi Interchange had been completed and the project was set for opening by the end of April.

The Dh88-million ($24 million) project involves the construction of a three-lane bridge branching from Oud Metha Road (nearby Latifa Hospital) in the direction of the Sheikh Rashid Road, and from there to the Sheikh Zayed Road and Al-Saada Road (through the overpass leading to the Dubai World Trade Centre), said the RTA.

About 70 per cent of the work on the flyover along with lighting and utility has been finished, while work is progressing well on the roadworks which are 35 per cent completed. The new bridge spans 700 m, and has a capacity to handle 3,300 vehicles per hour. Project works also include lighting, signage, rainwater drainage, and utility lines.

Meanwhile, RTA said it has awarded a Dh120-million ($33 million) contract for the construction of a bridge extending from Al Khail Road to the Financial Center Road in Dubai. The project, which is being developed in co-ordination with Emaar Properties, is expected to be completed early next year.

In other developments, RTA is seeking more than $2 billion to finance a 15-km extension of its above-ground metro train line to the World Expo 2020 site. The RTA has invited contractors bidding for the project to submit a financing proposal for up to 80 per cent of the project cost and may award the contract this month.