Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has announced the opening of the first phase of the Parallel Roads Improvement Project in the Godolphin vicinity being built at a cost of Dh1 billion ($272.2 million).

The project, being developed in two phases, is part of the strategic plan of the RTA for easing the pressure on main roads. It is one of the biggest currently being undertaken by the authority.

It spans 108 km starting from Sheikh Rashid Road in the north and ending on the outskirts of Abu Dhabi. It consists of bridges and surface junctions at the intersections of the parallel roads with the roads that run perpendicular, over 42 km, said a statement from RTA.

The project includes improving the existing intersection of Al Meydan and Al Khail roads. Flyovers have been constructed to ease overlapping traffic and peak-hour congestion.

It also includes the construction of a two-lane bridge to serve the traffic coming from Al Khail Road in the direction of Sharjah, passing through Al Asayel Road up to the intersection of Oud Metha Road, it stated.

According to RTA, it also includes the provision of direct entry/exit points for the Meydan Development Project, in addition to the construction of four underpasses extending 1,150 m, of which 300 m are covered and the rest are open.

The project encompasses the development and diversion of the infrastructure in the area as well as lighting and directional signage works.

On the project's progress, Mattar Al Tayer, the director-general and chairman of the board of executive directors of RTA, said: "The intersection of Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Road and Sheikh Rashid Road is part of a major project for upgrading the Al Shindagha roads network. The project is undertaken as part of the RTA’s masterplan for upgrading the network of roads, bridges, crossings and tunnels to accommodate the growing traffic movement and improve mobility throughout Dubai."

The two phases of the Parallel Roads Project aim to ease traffic density by 15 per cent on the Sheikh Zayed Road between the first and second interchanges by providing additional entry/exit points to Business Bay and Burj Khalifa District. This will raise its capacity to 20,000 vehicles per hour in both directions and enhance the capacity of Meydan Road.

It will also shorten the journey time between Sheikh Zayed Road and Al Khail Road from 12 to 2.5 minutes, and ease the pressure on the Financial Centre Road. Phases One and Two of the project include the construction of bridges extending 5,665 m and tunnels extending 2,445 m.

"Phase Two also includes the construction of a 240-m flyover on the intersection of Al Saada Road with Burj Khalifa Boulevard Road, a 535-m underpass at the intersection of Al Saada and Al Khaleej roads, and a 500-m bridge along the extension of Al Saada Road crossing over the Dubai Water Canal," said Al Tayer.

It also included the construction of a 420-m bridge at the intersection of Al Meydan and First Al Khail roads, a 420-m tunnel for left-side turns from Al Saada Road to Meydan Road, and a 340-m underpass for horse crossing at the Godolphin stables. These works are expected to be completed by mid-2018, he stated.

The completion rate of works at the intersection of Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Road and Sheikh Rashid Road has almost reached 60 per cent. The main bridge on Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Road is expected to be opened in the first half of 2018, he added.-TradeArabia News Service