Dubai's Road and Transport Authority (RTA) has awarded a Dh611 million ($166 million) contract for the development of the Sheikh Rashid Road - Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Road Interchange Project in the emirate.

The interchange, which is part of a major project to upgrade Al Shindagha roads network and help  accommodate growing traffic and improve mobility throughout Dubai, is due for completion in the last quarter of 2017, said a statement from RTA.

The new project is situated at the crossing of Sheikh Rashid Road heading northward towards Al Shindagha, with Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Road heading towards the junction of Al Kuwait Road and Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Road, it added.

On the new project Mattar Al Tayer, the director-general and chairman of the RTA board of executive directors, said: "It is being undertaken as part of the RTA's master plan for upgrading the network of roads, bridges, crossings and tunnels and to develop integrated solutions of roads as well as land and marine transport networks that are safe for users, compatible with comprehensive development plans, addressing the needs of demographic expansion, and contributing to sustainable development and investment in the emirate."

According to him, the project encompasses the construction of a bridge on the Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Road and a tunnel on the Sheikh Rashid Road as well as a bridge stretching from Umm Harir Road in the direction of Sheikh Rashid Road.

"The RTA has set out a comprehensive plan for smooth traffic flow at traffic diversions. Accordingly, the temporary diversion conforms to the standards of permanent roads specifications in terms of engineering design, leveling, asphalt and sufficient lighting consistent with the designed speed of the road to ensure the safety of road users," stated Al Tayer.

"The same number of lanes will be maintained in the diversion to avoid any negative impacts on the normal traffic flow, additional snarls or delays due construction works. The contractor's site will be fully separated by a high barrier to reduce the noise levels experienced by road users to the minimum," he added.

By the end of next month, the upgradation work at the major Wafi Interchange will be completed. It is one of the key interchanges in Dubai with links to a number of key roads.

This project encompasses the construction of a three-lane bridge from Oud Metha Road, near Latifa Hospital, in the direction of Sheikh Rashid Road and from there to the Sheikh Zayed Road and Al Saada Road, the flyover leading to the Dubai World Trade Centre, extending 700 meters with a capacity to handle around 3,300 vehicles per hour.-TradeArabia News Service