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29 March 2024

3-lane Wafi Bridge to ease Dubai traffic

The new bridge was intended to ease the overlapping traffic problems experienced in the intersection. (Supplied)

Published
By Staff

The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has opened the Improvement of Wafi Interchange project comprising the construction of a three-lane bridge extending 700 meters from Oud Metha Road (nearby Latifa Hospital) in the direction of the Sheikh Rashid Road, and from there to the Sheikh Zayed Road and Al Saada Road (the bridge leading to the Dubai World Trade Center). The total cost of the project is Dh88 million.

Matter Al Tayer, Director-General and Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of RTA, said: “The Improvement of Wafi Interchange project at the intersection of Oud Metha Road and Sheikh Rashid Road primarily aims at improving the leftward traffic flow coming from Oud Metha in the North to merge with Sheikh Rashid Road to the west, through the construction of a directional ramp ensuring free and safe traffic movement. The Bridge, which has a capacity to handle about 3,300 vehicles per hour, has been undertaken as part of RTA’s efforts to improve main roads network in the emirate, and the project had been flagged as a key traffic hub in the master plan of roads network in the emirate.

“The new bridge was intended to ease the overlapping traffic problems experienced in the intersection, and ensure a smooth vehicular movement in all directions. The traffic should now flow smoothly from Oud Metha Road heading to the east in the direction of Al Ain, and equally from Sheikh Rashid Road in the direction of Oud Metha Road to the west (Umm Hrrair, Oud Metha communities),” added Al Tayer.

Integrated Solutions

“Upgrading Wafi Interchange is part of the integrated solutions charted by RTA to address snarls at Bur Dubai. Early this year, RTA started construction works in the improvement of the Intersection of Sheikh Rashid Road with Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Road Project, costing about Dh611 million. The project, which is part of a master project for improvement of traffic at Al Shandagha hub, is situated at the crossing of Sheikh Rashid Road (in the direction of Al Shandagha to the north), and Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed road (in the direction of the intersection of Al Kuwait Road & Khalifa bin Zayed Road),” explained Al Tayer.

“The project that is expected to be completed in the final quarter of 2017 comprises the construction of a bridge on the Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Road, a tunnel at the Sheikh Rashid Road, and a bridge stretching from Umm Hrer Road in the direction of the Sheikh Rashid Road. The project is aimed at ensuring a free traffic flow from the Trade Center R/A to the intersection of the Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Road with Al Kuwait Road through a bridge of two lanes in each direction.

“The project also includes the construction of a tunnel in the Sheikh Rashid Road in the direction of the intersection with Al Mankhool Road comprising four lanes in each direction, in addition to the construction of a signalized junction in the underpass. The project would ensure a free turn from main roads to subsidiary roads, and Sheikh Rashid Road through the one-lane ramp stretching from Umm Hrer Road. It also includes lighting and pavement works in addition to irrigation systems, sewage network, rainwater drainage system besides shifting and protecting utility lines such as electricity cables, water pipes and communication ducts,” said Al Tayer