RTA awards contract to widen al-Qudra Road

The Board of Directors of the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) , chaired by Mattar Al Tayer, Chairman of the Board and Executive Director of the RTA , awarded a contract of al-Qudra Road Widening Project extending 24 km from the Arabian Ranches Interchange to Bab al-Shams, comprising three lanes in each direction. The project which has a cost tag of AED 78 million is set to be completed within 420 days. "The aim of the project is to improve the safety level of al-Qudra Road, particularly in the last sector of the road extending from Jebel Ali - Lehbab bridge up to Bab al-Shams Round About as this sector is witnessing over-speeding occurrences on the part of some drivers, besides that some parts of the road witness the crossing of camels and horses. Upon the completion of the widening works of al-Qudra Road, the traffic will flow smoothly in a traffic corridor from Jumeirah passing through Umm Suqeim Road, which has recently been improved through the opening of two bridges of 3 lanes in each direction; the first one crosses over the Eastern Parallel Road (al-Asayil Road), and the second crosses over the Western Parallel Road (al-Khail First Road). The traffic will continue to flow smoothly through the flyover of al-Khail Road and the Arabian Ranches Interchange up to the Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road, and from there continue to move smoothly to al-Qudra Road up to Seih al-Salam," explained Al Tayer. "The project comprises the widening of al-Qudra Road to three lanes in each direction. Widening works will include the existing dual carriageway extending from al-Qudra Road up to the approaches of Jebel Ali - Lehbab Interchange, and the single carriageway bound to al-Marmoom comprising three lanes in each direction. The project also comprises the construction of a new bridge over Jebel Ali - Lehbab Road in addition to the existing bridge such that each of the two bridges will be of three lanes in each direction, and a dedicated cycling track will be maintained in the bridge and fully separated from the vehicular traffic. Tunnels will be constructed for the crossing of camels and horses on both sides of the road. Works include constructing metal rails in the median to fend off disorderly U-turning, renewing ground markings, and enhancing the lighting of the road. The project design catered to maintain all trees, irrigation lines and lighting poles and as such there will be no traffic diversions in the constructing works except in the area of Bab al-Shams R/A and Jebel Ali - Lehbab Bridge. The RTA has recently opened the widening and improvement of Umm Suqeim Road project comprising the construction of two bridges of three lanes in each direction, two signalized junctions at the intersection of al-Asayil Road and al-Khail First Road, and three pedestrian bridges crossing over Umm Suqeim Road to provide smooth and safe movement of pedestrians from al-Qouz to al-Barsha and vice versa. The construction of Umm Suqeim Road widening '&' improvement project coincided with the completion of one of the giant '&' vital road projects undertaken by the RTA which is the improvement and widening of al-Khail Road at a cost of AED 1.925 billion. During this year, the RTA will release an array of projects for improving and widening key and arterial roads in Dubai Emirate as part of integrated widening projects under RTA strategy to keep pace with the urban, economic and tourist growth seen by the Emirate of Dubai. Such projects will also assist in sorting out traffic bottlenecks in some areas, providing advances services to meet the requirements of demographic and urban growth, and working out all-inclusive practical solutions to ensure a smooth traffic flow in realization of RTA 's vision of providing 'Safe '&' Smooth Transport for All' in the Emirate.