The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) of Dubai launched the Al Khawaneej Roads Improvement Project today (Saturday, April 17th, 2021).

The project involves a three-lane underpass at the convergence of Al Khawaneej and Sheikh Zayed bin Hamdan Al Nahyan Roads in the direction of Al Awir, and a two-lane bridge at the intersection of Al Amardi and Emirates Roads in the direction of Al Awir.

“The enhancement of Al Khawaneej Roads Project is one of the main priority projects for improving the ties between Dubai and Sharjah through the upgrade of vertical roads linking with the Emirates Road and Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road up to the Airport Street,” said Mattar Mohammed Al Tayer, Director-General and Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of the Roads and Transport Authority.

Al Tayer explains, “The project's goal is to meet current and expected traffic development. It helps to reduce travel time between the Emirates Road and Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road from 25 minutes to 9 minutes, time spent lingering at the Al Khawaneej-Sheikh Zayed Bin Hamdan Al Nahyan Roads (Al Khawaneej Roundabout) from 330 seconds to 45 seconds."

It also increases the junction's efficiency from 8,000 to 16,000 vehicles per hour and reduces the queuing at the Al Khawaneej-Al Amardi Roads intersection, which has been converted from a roundabout to a surface crossing, from 120 seconds to 60 seconds,” according to Al Tayer.

At the junction of Al Khawaneej Road and Sheikh Zayed bin Hamdan Al Nahyan Road, the project involves the construction of a 680-meter-long tunnel with triple lanes on each road.

Construction of a surface signalized intersection to maintain a free and secure flow of traffic on Al Khawaneej Road, and the conversion of the current roundabout at the junction of Al Khawaneej and Al Amardi Roads to a signalized junction were also part of the project. The Al Amardi-Emirates Roads junction has also been improved to a two-lane flyover in each path, extending 201 meters above the Emirates Road in the direction of Al Awir,” he added.

“Construction of a footbridge near Arabian Centre on Al Khawaneej Road, service routes stretching 23 km along Al Khawaneej and Al Amardi Roads, and some developments in three Algiers Street junctions that will be improved to signalized intersections junctions are currently in progress. Streetlights, a rainwater drainage system, road signs, road markers, and road safety maintenance works are among the other projects under development, according to Al Tayer.

The Al Khawaneej Roads Improvement Project is being built after all stages of the Airport Street Project, which included upgrading four crossings: Rashidiya, Nad Al Hamar, Marrakech, and Casablanca, were finished and opened. The project greatly enhanced traffic flow, shortened wait times, and sorted out traffic jams caused by conflicting traffic.

It also comes on the heels of the opening of the Tripoli Road Improvement Project, which connects Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road and Emirates Road in Tripoli. The launch of this 12-kilometer road improved road traffic improved Al Warqaa and Mirdif entry points across Tripoli Road, and increased protection along the passage.