Two major bridges at Sheikh Rashid-Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Streets intersection have been opened on Saturday.
The first bridge on Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Street includes two lanes in each direction, according to the Roads and Transport Authority.
The second bridge is a one-lane link stretching from Zabeel Street toward Sheikh Rashid Street.
The new connections will ease traffic movement heading to Al Karama and the World Trade Center junction in the direction of Sheikh Zayed Road.
The project to open a tunnel in both directions toward Al Garhoud and Mina Rashid is ongoing and will be completed in the second quarter of this year.
“The objective is to develop integrated solutions of roads and marine network that are safe for users, capable of matching the development plans, demographic growth and encouraging development and investment in Dubai,” said Mattar Al Tayer, director-general and chairman of the board of executive directors of RTA.
“The objective of the work is to ensure free traffic movement from the Trade Center roundabout to the intersection of Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Street and Al Kuwait Street through a two-lane bridge in each direction.”
The intersection of Sheikh Rashid and Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Streets is a key part of the larger plan to improve the Al Shandagha road network.
The project covers the intersection of Sheikh Rashid Street in the direction of the northern end of Al Shandagha Network and Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Street in the direction of the intersection with Al Kuwait Street.
The overall plan includes construction of a tunnel comprising four lanes in each direction on Sheikh Rashid Street toward the intersection with Al Mankhool Street, and a signalised junction under the bridge to provide free turns from the main roads to subsidiary roads.
Work on the Sheikh Rashid-Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Streets intersection is in parallel to the improvement of the Wafi intersection project.
The Wafi junction is another vital intersection between Sheikh Rashid Street and Oud Metha Street. This will include construction of a three-lane bridge from Oud Metha Street near Latifa Hospital to Sheikh Zayed Road and Al Sa’ada Street. The upper stretch will lead to the Dubai World Trade Center, the RTA said.