Work on the Dh2.1-billion ($571 million) Abu Dhabi-Dubai Highway project is progressing well with more than 60 per cent of the job completed, said a report, citing senior officials of Abu Dhabi General Services (Musanada).

The 62-km highway project, which is being developed in collaboration with Abu Dhabi’s Department of Transport (DoT), is set for completion in the fourth quarter of 2017, reported the Gulf News.

The eight-lane expressway is an extension of Mohammad Bin Zayed Road, which currently ends at Seih Shuaib area at the Dubai-Abu Dhabi border. The other major highway that links Dubai with the northern emirates also ends at Seih Shuaib.

Set to be ready by the end of next year, the road will help motorists heading to Sharjah and the Northern Emirates avoid traffic on Shaikh Zayed Road and other roads in Dubai. It also provides direct access to the eastern cities of Fujairah, Kalba and Khor Fakkan.

It will help divert the bulk of the traffic from Shaikh Zayed Road, which is currently the only major road link between Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Northern Emirates, said the report.

Passing through Al Maha Forest, Kizad, Al Ajban Road, Zayed Military City to Sweihan Road, the new highway includes six bridges and six underground passes.

The project, which has a capacity of up to 7,000 vehicles per hour, aims to reduce congestion and accidents on the current E11 Abu Dhabi-Dubai Road, it added.