RTA to construct 13.5 km multi-use track for bicycles, scooters, and pedestrians

 

Under the directives of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Chairman of the Executive Council to transform Dubai into a bicycle-friendly city, which entails creating an environment that encourages people to practice cycling sport, the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) is set to construct a 13.5 km track tailored for bicycles, scooters, and pedestrians. This new track, which links Al Sufouh to Dubai Hills via Hessa Street, features two architecturally innovative bridges crossing over Sheikh Zayed Road and Al Khail Road.

His Excellency Mattar Al Tayer, Director General, Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of the Roads and Transport Authority said, “This track designated for cyclists, scooter riders and pedestrians is part of Hessa Street Improvement Project currently undertaken by RTA spanning 4.5 km between the intersections with Sheikh Zayed Road and Al Khail Road. It encompasses upgrades to four major intersections along Hessa Street with Sheikh Zayed Road, First Al Khail Street, Al Asayel Street, and Al Khail Road. Hessa Street will be widened from two to four lanes in each direction, doubling its capacity to 16,000 vehicles per hour in both directions.”

“The planned multi-use track measures 13.5 km in length and 4.5 metres in width (2.5-metre-wide track for cyclists & scooter riders, and 2-metre-wide track for pedestrians). It connects Al Sufouh to Dubai Hills via Hessa Street. It serves 12 diverse residential, commercial, and educational areas in addition to service facilities in vibrant neighbourhoods like Al Barsha and Al Barsha Heights. The track is designed to improve connectivity for first and last-mile trips, linking with the Dubai Internet City Metro Station and other hotspots in the vicinity. The capacity of the track is estimated at 5,200 users per hour,” explained Al Tayer.

“The new track features two uniquely designed bridges: the first spans 528 metres over Sheikh Zayed Road, and the second stretches 501 metres over Al Khail Road. Each bridge is 5-metre wide (3 metres for bicycles and e-scooters and 2 metres for pedestrians). The engineering design of these bridges is inspired by the surrounding environments. The design concept of the bridge crossing Sheikh Zayed Road embodies themes of connectivity embodied in overlapping lines. The open design of the bridge structure enhances visibility, offering improved views of the surrounding area and adjacent towers. Meanwhile, the bridge over Al Khail Road has a design that replicates the path of the sunlight, creating smooth lines and offering pedestrians and cyclists a tranquil escape from the street noise. The design thoughtfully considers integrating the path of the sun's rays into the design,” added Al Tayer. 

Hessa Street Improvement Project is one of the key road infrastructure improvement projects that cater to several key residential and developmental communities such as Al Sufouh 2, Al Barsha, and Jumeirah Village Circle. By 2030, it is anticipated that the population served by this project will surpass 640,000. The project is set to double the capacity of Hessa Street by 100% from 8,000 vehicles per hour in both directions to 16,000 vehicles per hour in both directions.

The project encompasses the improvement of four main intersections on Hessa Street. The first is the Sheikh Zayed Road Intersection, which involves constructing a two-lane directional ramp that crosses over the Dubai Metro Red Line to serve eastbound traffic from Sheikh Zayed Road to Hessa Street in the direction of Emirates Road. 

The second is the improvement of the First Al Khail Street Intersection. It includes widening the existing bridge from three to four lanes in each direction including traffic improvements to the signalised surface intersection.

The third is the improvement of Al Asayel Street Intersection. It includes increasing the number of lanes of the existing bridge from two to four lanes in each direction along Hessa Street, in addition to traffic improvements to the signalised surface intersection.

The fourth intersection to be upgraded is Al Khail Road Intersection. It includes the construction of a two-lane directional ramp to serve northbound traffic from Hessa Street to Al Khail Road towards Sharjah.

 

The cycling track connecting Al Sufouh and Dubai Hills is a key component of the Dubai cycling tracks master plan to develop and expand cycling tracks and enhance connectivity across the emirate. The plan aims to increase the overall length of Dubai’s cycling tracks from the current 544 km to 1,000 km by 2030. This expansion will connect coastal areas like Jumeirah, Al Sufouh, and Marina to external tracks at Al Qudra, Seih Al Salam, and Nad Al Sheba via Al Barsha, Dubai Hills, and Nad Al Sheba.

The design and construction of cycling tracks and the applicable speed limits adhere to the highest international standards and technical manuals. Careful consideration has been given to the characteristics of the area and the classification of tracks. These tracks contributed to encouraging both residents and visitors to practice cycling as a viable and sustainable alternative mode of transport, realizing first and last-mile strategy.