Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) announced the completion of 45 per cent of the works in the first contract for Phase 4 of Al Shindagha Corridor Improvement Project.
The project scope extends 4.8km from the intersection of Sheikh Rashid Road with Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Street to the Falcon Intersection on Al Mina Street.
It involves the construction of three bridges extending 3.1km with a capacity of 19,400 vehicles per hour in all directions. The project has been undertaken in response to the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, and under the followup of Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of Dubai Executive Council.
Mattar Al Tayer, Director-General, Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of RTA, stated, “Al Shindagha Corridor Improvement Project, which spans 13km along Sheikh Rashid Road, Al Mina Street, Al Khaleej Street, and Cairo Street, aims to facilitate free traffic movement along the corridor, enhance the capacity, and step-up traffic safety.”
An aerial view of the under-construction bridge in Dubai.
“The first contract of Phase 4 includes the construction of a 1335-metre-long bridge, with a capacity of three lanes in each direction, to ensure smooth traffic flow between Sheikh Rashid and the Falcon Intersection. The bridge has a capacity of 10,800 vehicles per hour in both directions. “The second bridge extends 780 metres with a capacity of three lanes to serve traffic coming from the Falcon Intersection heading to Al Wasl Road with a capacity of 5400 vehicles per hour. The third is a two-lane bridge extending 985 metres to serve traffic coming from Jumeirah Street heading to Al Mina Street in the direction of the Falcon Intersection, with a capacity of 3,200 vehicles per hour,” Al Tayer explained.
“The project also includes constructing roads extending 4.8km, improving surface intersections on Jumeirah Street, Al Mina Street, and Sh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah Street, and constructing two pedestrian bridges on Sheikh Rashid Road and Al Mina Street. Works also include street lighting, traffic systems, rainwater drainage, and irrigation systems,” he added.
“Al Shindagha Corridor Improvement Project is one of the largest projects currently being implemented by RTA. It involves the development of 15 intersections along 13km and due to its scale, it has been split into five phases. The project serves Deira and Bur Dubai and development projects such as Dubai Islands, Dubai Waterfront, Dubai Maritime City, and Mina Rashid. The project, which serves about one million people, is set to reduce journey time from 104 minutes to 16 minutes by 2030,” Al Tayer commented.
“RTA is currently constructing Al Khaleej Street Tunnel, which extends from the end of the ramp of the Infinity Bridge in Deira to the intersection of Al Khaleej Street with Cairo Street. This 1650-metre-long tunnel has three lanes in each direction, accommodating 12,000 vehicles per hour. The tunnel facilitates free traffic flow for motorists from the Infinity Bridge heading to Deira and vice versa.
“The project also includes converting the intersection of Cairo and Al Wuheida Street from a roundabout to a signalised junction along with some improvements on Cairo Street and connecting the bridge ramp from Dubai Islands to the new Al Khaleej Street Tunnel heading northward,” Al Tayer said.
RTA has developed numerous intersections under Al Shindagha Corridor, including the opening of Sheikh Rashid Road Intersection with Oud Metha Street (Wafi Intersection) along with the Intersection of Sheikh Rashid Road with Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Street.
This development included the construction of two bridges on Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Street with a capacity of two lanes in each direction, a bridge from Zaabeel Street towards Sheikh Rashid Road with a capacity of one lane, and a tunnel on Sheikh Rashid Road intersection with Al Mankhool Street with a capacity of four lanes in each direction.