Abu Dhabi to begin work on Dh7.4b highways

The Department of Transport (DoT) will soon commence the construction of new Mafraq-Ghuwaifat and Abu Dhabi-Dubai highways with a budget of Dh7.4 billion.   The announcement comes following the approval by the Executive Council during its recent meeting presided over by General Shaikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces and Chairman of the Council. The Council authorised the DoT to appoint contractors to execute both projects. The 327 kilometres Mafraq-Ghuwaifat main road is expected to be accomplished by 2017 and extends it Mafraq to the international border linking the UAE with Saudi Arabia in Ghuwaifat. It also passes through the Industrial Centre in Ruwais and some tourist and commercial locations in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. About 80 kilometres of this road linking Baynounah Forest (East of Ruwais with Baraka to the west of Ruwais towards Silaa) was built in 2011. The project, parallel to the existing highway, encompasses constructing four new lanes in each direction from Mafraq to Baraka. Then, three lanes in each direction, but the road will expand to four lanes in each direction in the 22 kilometres closest to the borders with Saudi Arabia. In addition, the new road will be raised to avoid undesired impacts of underwater whilst helping drain rainwater and boost the road capacity to withstand the expected increase of number of vehicles. The road median has been designed to accommodate two future lanes in each direction, if needed. The project will also see the construction of (15) new upper interchanges with different engineering designs in Musaffah, Al Dhafra, ICAD, Tarif, Al Mirfa East and Al Mirfa West. Existing interchanges in Mafraq, Hamim, Abu Al Abbyad, and Madinat Zayed will also be modified. Mafraq-Ghuwaifat main road will encompass layby(s) (rest stops/side parking) on each direction for both light vehicles and heavy trucks as well as areas for ambulance, police vehicles, petrol stations and weight station. There will be a 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 will be made. Concurrently, the DoT also unveiled that it is gearing up for the new Abu Dhabi-Dubai (E311) main road of 62 kilometres costing Dh2.1 billion. The project, parallel to existing Abu Dhabi-Dubai (E11) main road, extends from Mohammed bin Zayed Road in Seih Showaib through Al Maha Forest and Khalifa Industrial Zone Abu Dhabi (KIZAD) and will join up at the Suweihan Road (E20). The road is also 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 to more than 12,000 vehicles in 2030. For optimal road safety, the new Abu Dhabi-Dubai main road will feature four lanes in each direction; two shoulders on both right sides of the road and the wide median is designed for a staged upgrade and future expansion if needed. Six upper interchanges will be built. 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 best sustainable standards of reducing energy consumption. Khaleej Times