ABU DHABI // Almost six years after work began, Khalifa Street is once again connected to Airport Road, with six lanes of traffic now making its way through a ground-level tunnel beneath Central Market.
Access in the congested city-centre area has eased since the opening of a portion of Khalifa (Street 3) last week, leaving local residents and businesses hopeful of easier passage and increased trade.
Tourists wanting to visit The Souq: Central Market should also find access easier as, in addition to the three lanes in either direction, a drop-off layby with a taxi rank at the entrance has been installed.
But other building work is continuing at Central Market, so while progress has been made, work is still ongoing in nearby areas.
Talal Al Dhiyebi, executive director of asset management at Aldar, the developer of the market, said yesterday: "The road closed to motorists in 2006 and opened on July 5."
The opening of other parts of the market will be announced later.
Aali Qaedi Kunji, who has lived in the area for 37 years, said: "The street has been closed for almost seven years. But I feel some respite since the opening as traffic movement in the area has got better."
Mr Kunji, who runs Cairo Castle Textiles, a shop opposite The Souq, said it used to be hard to find a parking space but the better access makes it easier.
"People would come and be stuck in traffic but now they are free to move around," he said. "All these years we have been continuously losing business but after this road opening, we hope for better."
Khaled Al Qubaisi, an Emirati who also lives in the area, said: "It looks good and has good accessibility to other roads. I am happy to see the traffic jams ease in the vicinity."
Ismael Abdul Qader, a shopper at The Souq, said: "It connects you directly to the Corniche, which is a few blocks away, as well as Airport Road. Before, coming to this area was a nightmare."
Muzammil Ashraf Zarghar, a shopkeeper at Kashmir House in The Souq, said: "I think after a few weeks, when people get to know about this new road, sales could jump up."
The Souq: Central Market, opened in 2010 and is a modern development that purports to be a historic souq.
A souq has been present in the vicinity since the 1970s but previous ones would have been nothing like the grand indoor space that is there now, with its Andalusian-style fountain and rooftop restaurant.
anwar@thenational.ae
