12.46 PM Friday, 29 March 2024
  • City Fajr Shuruq Duhr Asr Magrib Isha
  • Dubai 04:56 06:10 12:26 15:53 18:37 19:52
29 March 2024

Al Khail Road users have to wait a year for free-flow traffic

Published

Construction work at Al Khail Road is aimed at creating an attractive alternative to parallel roads with high traffic volumes.

Currently Road and Transport Authority (RTA) is undertaking one of its biggest road projects – improvement of Al Khail Road. This intercity road runs parallel to and in between Sheikh Zayed Road and Emirates Road, and is to take away the pressure on these roads, which are challenged by high traffic volumes.

With the improvements, Al Khail Road is set to attract more motorists. But users have to wait till the end of this year for key bridges to be opened and for full works to be completed by the first half of 2013.

Because of its prime location –it connects centrally located Business Bay to other prime locations - some people already consider Al Khail Road the best alternative.

“The importance of the project is underlined by the fact that it represents an extension of the Business Bay Crossing, and enables the RTA to create an auxiliary traffic corridor supporting both the Sheikh Zayed and Emirates Roads,” says Mattar Al Tayer, Chairman and Executive Director of the Roads & Transport Authority (RTA) on RTA’s website.

To smoothen the influx of traffic coming from and heading to Emirates Road, Al Quoz Residential and Industrial area and Umm Suqeim Road, roundabouts are being replaced by elevated bridges and interchanges, accompanied with supporting traffic signals and signage.

Furthermore, the four-lane highway will become a six-lane way, enabling more motorists to enjoy a smooth transit.

“It is my all-time favourite,” says Ahmed Mustafa Omar, an Egyptian real estate agent who has to go to properties at different locations. “For my work, I could opt for many of the main roads, but I always choose Al Khail Road.

“There are no obstacles, and there is no Salik fee,” is the Egyptian’s main argument.

“I either use Emirates Road, or Al Khail Road, and I save Dh8 every day,” says Fairoz Uthman, A Pakistani who lives in Al Barsha and travels to his company in Business Bay every day. “It is worth it, because these routes are only half a kilometer longer.

Salik, the toll that is required for road users to pass Sheikh Zayed Road seems to be a differentiating factor for many people looking for alternative routes through the emirate, and a lot of people may re-evaluate their options if tolls will be put on other roads too. At this moment, there are no such plans, informs RTA.

"The Project, which is being constructed at a cost of about Dh1.925 billion will be completed in the first half of 2013,” it says.

“All key bridges being constructed at interchanges of Al Khail Road Widening Project would be opened by the end of this year, and construction of the remaining auxiliary bridges would be completed in the first half of 2013. Work in some interchanges reached the final stages with completion rate ranging from 88 to 96 per cent, Mattar Al Tayer is quoted as saying.

MUST READ:

Saudi jet aborts take-off after technical fault

 

Drowning man rescued on Jumeirah beach