Dubai to Abu Dhabi on the fast track; New Mafraq-Ghweifat road

The Department of Transport (DoT) in Abu Dhabi has announced that it will soon commence construction of the new Mafraq-Ghweifat highway and a new stretch of the Abu Dhabi -Dubai main road.

The announcement was made following approval by the Executive Council during its recent meeting presided over by General Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, when the Council authorised the DoT to appoint contractors to execute both projects at an estimated cost of Dh7.4 billion.

The 327-km Mafraq- Ghweifat road is expected to be accomplished by 2017, extends from Mafraq to the international border with KSA in Ghweifat.

It also passes through the Industrial Centre in Ruwais and some tourist and commercial locations.

The new road will be raised to avoid the possible impact of flooding whilst helping to drain rainwater and boost the road capacity to withstand the expected increase of traffic. The road median has been designed to accommodate two future lanes in each direction, if needed.

The Mafraq-Ghweifat road will encompass rest stops with side parking in each direction for both light vehicles and heavy trucks, as well as areas for ambulance, police vehicles, petrol stations and weigh-station.

There will be a hard shoulder on the right of both directions for emergencies, a fence to protect road users and new sustainability-approved and energy-saving road lightening systems.

Concurrently, the DoT also unveiled that it is gearing up for the new Abu Dhabi–Dubai (E311) highway for 62km at a cost of Dh2.1 billion.

The project, parallel to the exiting Abu Dhabi-Dubai (E11) main road, extends from Mohammed bin Zayed Road in Saih Shuaib through Al Maha Forest and Khalifa Industrial Zone Abu Dhabi (KIZAD) and will join up with the Sweihan Road (E20).

The project is expected to be accomplished by 2017.

This project aims to alleviate traffic congestion on the current main road connecting Abu Dhabi to Dubai (E11), as studies show that traffic will go up from 700 vehicles per hour at peak time now to more than 12,000 vehicles in 2030 as a result of population growth, thus providing a new strategic link between the two most populated emirates in the country, as well as creating new entrances to the city of Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi International Airport, Yas and Saadiyat Islands.

The new Abu Dhabi – Dubai main road will connect the Khalifa Port area and Kizad to existing and future main roads to reach the Industrial Area in Musaffah in addition to serving new residential areas.

For optimum road safety, the new stretch of the Abu Dhabi – Dubai highway will feature four lanes and a hard shoulder in each direction and the wide median is designed for a staged upgrade and future expansion if needed. Six upper interchanges will be built.

The laybys are designed for emergency use by light vehicles and heavy trucks and also serve as a patrol point for police, ambulance, and emergency vehicles.

In addition, the main road will come with five U-turn facilities especially designed for emergency use by official vehicles only.

To ensure maximum safety, the new main road will come with a rainwater drainage system and will benefit from ample lighting system at night which follows sustainable standards of reducing energy consumption.

Follow Emirates 24|7 on Google News.