The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has granted a contract to enhance the Garn Al Sabkha Street and Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Road intersection. The project entails the construction of four bridges spanning a total of 3000 meters, with the capacity to accommodate 17,600 vehicles per hour. The allocated budget for this endeavour amounts to AED 374 million.
This initiative is a direct response to the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister, and Ruler of Dubai, as well as H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of Dubai Executive Council. The aim is to continue the development of the city’s road infrastructure to keep pace with its flourishing profile while accommodating the demands of urban expansion and population growth.
According to Mattar Al Tayer, Director-General and Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors at the RTA, this project is part of a larger plan to enhance the Garn Al Sabkha Street Corridor, which connects Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Roads. The primary objective is to ensure smooth traffic flow between Sheikh Zayed Road, Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Road, First Al Khail Street, and Al Asayel Street.
Upon completion, the project will reduce travel distance and time by 40% for vehicles travelling from Garn Al Sabkha Street to Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Road in the direction of Al Qusais and Sharjah, resulting in a peak-hour journey time reduction from 20 minutes to just 12 minutes. Furthermore, it will decrease travel time by 70% for vehicles travelling from Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Road towards Al Yalayis Road in the direction of Jebel Ali Port, reducing the journey duration from 21 minutes to 7 minutes.
The project includes the construction of four bridges. The first is a 960-meter bridge located at the intersection of Garn Al Sabkha Street and Al Asayel Street, accommodating two lanes and capable of handling 8000 vehicles per hour in both directions, facilitating smooth traffic flow between Sheikh Zayed Road and Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Road. The second bridge spans 660 meters and two lanes, serving traffic from Garn Al Sabkha Street heading westward to Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Road northward in the direction of Al Qusais and Sharjah, with a capacity of 3200 vehicles per hour.
The third bridge, spanning 700 meters and equipped with two lanes, aims to streamline traffic flow and eliminate overlapping traffic from Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Road heading northward to Al Yalayis Road in the direction of Jebel Ali Port, accommodating 3200 vehicles per hour. Lastly, the fourth bridge, covering a distance of 680 meters and featuring two lanes, ensures smooth traffic flow and prevents overlapping traffic from Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Road to the service road leading to Dubai Production City, with a capacity of 3200 vehicles per hour.
In addition to the bridge construction, the project also encompasses 7 kilometres of roadwork, including improving surface intersections on the service road parallel to Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Road. Other project elements involve street lighting, traffic signals and systems, rainwater drainage networks, and irrigation system networks.
The Garn Al Sabkha: Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Roads Intersection Improvement Project is part of the RTA’s master plan to upgrade strategic road corridors to the East and West, such as Al Yalayis and Expo Roads, which were completed by the RTA a few years ago. These crucial road networks enhance Dubai’s transportation system, support various developmental projects along both sides of the roads, and accommodate existing and future traffic volumes.
