Dubai commute cut from 20 to 5 minutes: 7 upgrades now open on Oud Metha, Al Asayel
Four new bridges, two tunnels and wider roads boost capacity across key routes connecting Za’abeel, Al Jaddaf, Oud Metha and Umm Hurair
Dubai: New bridges, tunnels and expanded roads are now going to make your drive around Oud Metha Road and Al Asayel Street a lot smoother.
On Sunday, September 20, Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) announced the completion of road works on Oud Metha Road and Al Asayel Street Development Project, and here’s exactly how your journey is going to get better.
Who will it affect?
Anyone living in or travelling to the following areas will be able to benefit from the completed projects:
- Za’abeel
- Al Jaddaf
- Oud Metha
- Umm Hurair
The development project will also improve connectivity to vital public facilities like Latifa Hospital and Al Wasl Club. The population of the areas served by the project is expected to exceed 420,000 by 2030.
What are the upgrades?
- Oud Metha Road capacity increased by 50%: The road can now handle 15,600 vehicles per hour (up from 10,400 vehicles per hour), reducing travel time from 20 to five minutes.
- Four major intersections enhanced, including the intersection between Oud Metha Road and Sheikh Rashid Road.
- Four new bridges: The project added four bridges to improve connections between Al Asayel Street, Al Khail Road, Al Wasl Club Street and Oud Metha Road:
- Al Asayel Street - Al Wasl Club Street: A new two-lane bridge with a capacity of 2,400 vehicles per hour.
- Al Khail Road - Al Asayel Street: A new three-lane bridge via Al Wasl Club Street, with a capacity of 3,600 vehicles per hour.
- Al Asayel Street - Oud Metha Road: A new two-lane bridge for left-turn traffic, with a capacity of 2,400 vehicles per hour.
- Al Asayel Street - Al Khail Road towards Business Bay Crossing: A new two-lane bridge with a capacity of 3,000 vehicles per hour.
- Two new tunnels: A new tunnel now connects the Oud Metha Road service road with the Sheikh Rashid Road intersection for motorists heading towards Bur Dubai. Another single-lane tunnel has been constructed for motorists travelling from Dubai–Al Ain Road towards the Oud Metha Road service road, with capacity for 1,200 vehicles per hour.
- Al Khail Road-Oud Metha Road bridge widened: The existing bridge carrying traffic from Al Khail Road towards Oud Metha Road has also been expanded from two to three lanes, increasing capacity from 2,200 to 3,300 vehicles per hour.
- Al Khail Road-Dubai–Al Ain Road capacity doubled: RTA also announced that an additional lane has been added to the left-turn ramp at the intersection of Za’abeel Palace Street with Al Khail Road and Oud Metha Road, doubling the road capacity from 900 to 1,800 vehicles per hour.
- 14km of roads upgraded: In total, the project covered 14km of roads and included improvements to service roads and traffic movements designed to reduce traffic overlaps and improve road safety.
According to RTA, the completed project is designed to improve connectivity between these key traffic routes and ease traffic flow around residential and development areas.