Jebel Ali traffic to ease with Al Houdh Flyover opening in Sept

The flyover across Al Houdh R/A, channelling traffic inbound from Jebel Ali Port and outbound to Dubai city on Emirates Road along with connectors to Abu Dhabi and Dubai Bypass Road, will be opened in September, said Mattar Al Tayer, Chairman and Executive Director of Roads and Transport Authority (RTA).
 
The project is set for full completion in the second quarter of 2013.
 
“This project forms a key part of two important projects underway costing about Dh1.515 billion -- namely Phase II of widening and upgrading of Emirates Road Project in the sector stretching from Arabian Ranches Interchange to Al Houdh R/A, and Al Khail-Emirates Roads Improvement Project – Interchange No (9),” said Al Tayer.
 
“The two projects are being constructed in the context of RTA Master Plan set for upgrading the network of roads, bridges, crossings and tunnels with the aim of improving transportation and easing traffic flow in various parts of Dubai emirate.
 
“By the end of September, the flyover passing across Al Houdh R/A on Emirates Road will be opened to serve the traffic flow inbound from Jebel Ali Port. The bridge comprises five lanes; three are linked to Al Yalayes Road coming from Jebel Ali and heading towards Emirates Road in the direction of Dubai, and 2-lane connectors to serve the traffic in the direction of Abu Dhabi and Dubai Bypass
 
Road with a total length of about 2.5km. It also comprises the widening of Emirates Road from 3 to 6 lanes in the direction from Al Houdh R/A to the Arabian Ranches Interchange in a sector extending about 10km.
 
“RTA is keen on completing all the pending jobs in the two vital projects and the opening of the completed parts of the project will serve the intensive traffic movement, particularly trucks coming from Jebel Ali heading towards Dubai or Abu Dhabi. It will also increase the traffic intake of the existing roads, ease the traffic pressure on Al Houdh R/A, and slash the waiting time of the light signal at Al Houdh R/A by almost 50 per cent,” said Al Tayer.
 
Over the past few years RTA has finalised the completion of the widening of Emirates Road from three to six lanes in each direction starting from the environs of Dubai and Sharjah emirates up to Arabian Ranches Interchange in a 32 km-long sector.
 
The project was divided into three phases: Phase I witnessed the completion of widening works from the outskirts of Shajrah to Al Awir Interchange in a sector extending 12km and was completed in August 2007.
 
Phase II; which extended 10km from Al Awir Interchange to Al Ain Interchange, was opened in February 2008, and the sector extending 10km from Al Ain Interchange to the Arabian Ranches Interchange was opened by the end of March 2008.
 
The Arabian Ranches Interchange, which was opened in August 2008 at a cost of about Dh409 million, is considered one of the biggest flyovers built by the RTA featuring flyovers spanning 2.5km and comprising 11 bridges and one tunnel; offering free traffic movement in all directions.