New flyover planned for Sheikh Zayed Road

DUBAI // A contract for a new multi-tier flyover over a key roundabout on Sheikh Zayed Road was signed by the Roads and Transport Authority on Saturday.

The earlier Al Houdh roundabout that was controlled by signals will be converted to a free multi-tier crossing at a cost of Dh227 million with the total cost increasing to Dh2.52 billion to widen the stretch of Sheikh Zayed Road from Sharjah up to the roundabout that serves the Dubai Investment Park and Green Community areas.

The project will be constructed over 24 months, said Mr Mattar Al Tayer, the chairman of the board and RTA’s executive director in a statement.

Upgrading of the Al Houdh roundabout will improve traffic movement at the junction and raise capacity by construction of flyovers across Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road to ensure traffic flow from and to Al Yalayis Road in all directions.

The project comprises widening of the Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road in an 11 km-long sector stretching from the Al Houdh roundabout up to the intersection leading to Al Maktoum Airport from three lanes to six lanes in each direction.

This will also include construction of a service road running 4km on both sides of the Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road from the intersection with Al Khail Road to Al Houdh roundabout to ease the entry and exits of vehicles.

The roundabout project is part of the second phase of widening of Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road Project. Earlier the RTA had opened a flyover across the roundabout for Dubai-bound traffic from Jebel Ali Port. The crossing comprises three lanes with one kilometer linking Al Yalayis Road in the direction from Jebel Ali to the Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road in the direction of Dubai. It also included widening of the highway from three to six lanes toward the Arabian Ranches interchange.

Over the past few years the RTA completed the first phase of the highway widening project from three to six lanes in each direction extending 32 km from the outskirts of the Dubai-Sharjah up to the interchange of the Arabian Ranches.

rtalwar@thenational.ae