Dubai to ease road traffic with multi-billion projects

The first project includes improvement on parallel streets of Godolphin and Zaabeel neighbourhoods and the second is Al Ittihad Bridge which will replace the present Floating Bridge. The Floating Bridge will be shifted to Sheraton crossing connecting Shaikh Khalifa bin Zayed Street in Bur Dubai and Omar bin Al Khattab Road in Deira, a source at the RTA told Khaleej Times. “The authority will also inaugurate important projects within the next few days,” the source said but declined to give details. The source added that the capacity of Al Ittihad Bridge is estimated at 24,000 motor vehicles per hour. “This will help increase the capacity of roads network parallel to the facility (the bridge), and ease the flow of traffic between the two Dubai flanks on Dubai Creek, especially on Bur Dubai where it will be linked to Rashid hospital’s tunnels,” the source said. Shifting of the Floating Bridge will help serve areas close to the Dubai Municipality Headquarters in Deira which is witnessing spiralling vehicular traffic especially during peak hours, as well as the Diplomatic Enclave, Al Fahidi and Bur Dubai. Execution of improvement works on parallel streets in the Godolphin neighbourhood will take almost 30 months, the source said, adding, the works on the project include roads, bridge works and a number of underpasses that will ease traffic flow on the parallel roads and also alleviate the traffic congestion on the roads surrounding the neighbourhood. “The project is an extension of the parallel streets on Al Asayil road and Al Saada road (former Al Khail road),” the source said, noting that the project will back up the present roads in Business Bay area and upgrade traffic movement. “It also provides exits and entrances to the neighbourhood from both Shaikh Zayed and Al Khail roads,” the source said adding that it connects surrounding areas like Al Quoz, Zabeel and Jumeirah.   Khaleej Times