A major commuter link in Sharjah will be closed to traffic for two months to allow for Etihad Rail construction work to take place.
Sharjah Roads and Transport Authority said the route connecting Mleiha Road and Sharjah Ring Road, near University Bridge, would be closed to traffic with immediate effect until August 30.
The authority said the temporary measures were being introduced as part of Etihad Rail project works.
“We kindly urge all road users to use alternative routes and adhere to traffic safety guidelines to ensure everyone’s safety,” Sharjah RTA said on social media platform X.
The route is popular with motorists, with many using Sharjah Ring Road to gain access to the busy Emirates Road.
Rail plan gathers pace
Plans for an Etihad Rail passenger service station in Sharjah were announced in March last year.
The site will be situated close to the emirate's University City and be connected to the main UAE-wide line.
The area is a crucial location being close to Sharjah Airport and home to scores of educational institutions.
Once up and running, the new station will help to increase the number of passengers on Etihad Rail to about 14,000 a day during the week.
Etihad Rail's much-anticipated passenger train service is set to launch next year, marking a significant step forward for the country's infrastructure project.
The development was first revealed in message on X on May 9 that detailed a meeting between Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed, Ruler's Representative in Al Dhafra Region, and a delegation from Etihad Rail. Progress made on construction and future plans were discussed at the meeting.
Etihad Rail in January said the first four passenger stations on the UAE-wide line would be in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah and Fujairah.
The passenger trains are set to travel at 200kph carrying up to 400 passengers. Travelling from Abu Dhabi to Dubai will take about 57 minutes, while a journey from the capital to Fujairah will take 105 minutes.
Separately, Etihad Rail in January announced plans for an electrified high-speed passenger service between Abu Dhabi and Dubai with its own set of stations.
Full speed ahead
Work on Etihad Rail began in 2009. Since 2016, two tracks spanning 264km have been in operation – with trains taking granulated sulphur from gasfields in Shah and Habshan to an export point in Ruwais.
When complete, the network will connect the seven emirates to the five neighbouring GCC states.
The line will ultimately link the UAE and Saudi Arabia from Fujairah Port to Ghuwaifat, through Khalifa Port and Jebel Ali Port.
A railway connecting the UAE with Oman is also planned.
Bio
Born in Dubai in 1994
Her father is a retired Emirati police officer and her mother is originally from Kuwait
She Graduated from the American University of Sharjah in 2015 and is currently working on her Masters in Communication from the University of Sharjah.
Her favourite film is Pacific Rim, directed by Guillermo del Toro
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