A general view of the 12-km street set to open next month. WAM

The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), announced that it had completed 90 per cent of the Tripoli Street Improvement Project and expects to throw it open to the public by June this year.

The 12-km street, which links Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Road and Emirates Road runs parallel to the recently re-opened Airport Street Improvement Project.

The project was implemented on the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, who ordered the immediate implementation of the 5-Year Plan of Roads and Transport Projects to keep pace with the sustained development of Dubai.

"The project will enhance the link between Dubai and Sharjah, ease traffic movement and streamline the access to Warqaa and Mirdif districts. It will also improve traffic safety at the intersections with Rabat and Nad Al Hamar Streets near Bel Remaitha Club," said Mattar Al Tayer, Director-General and Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of the RTA.

"It will increase the traffic flow to about 12,000 vehicles per hour in both directions (6,000 vehicles per hour per direction) and reduce the traffic volumes by 30 per cent. Upon completion, the project will act as a parallel road to the Al Amardi - Al Khawaneej and Al Awir - Ras Al Khor traffic corridors."

"The contractor has completed the extension of Tripoli Street from the intersection with Sheikh Zayed Bin Hamdan Al Nahyan St. up to Emirates Road and the bridge linking the extension of Tripoli St. with the Emirates Road in the direction of Sharjah. Work was also completed on the flyover between Tripoli St. and Sheikh Zayed bin Hamdan Al Nahyan Street. Completion rate has reached 92 per cent in the bridge at the intersection of Tripoli-Nouakchott Streets, and 75 per cent in the tunnel at the intersection of Tripoli-Algeria Streets (Mirdif-Warqaa)," Al Tayer explained.

"The project includes the widening of Tripoli Street over a 6.5 kilometre, km, stretch from the intersection with Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road (nearby Mirdif City Centre) up to Sheikh Zayed bin Hamdan Al Nahyan Street. It also includes the construction of a new six-lane 5.3 km-long street from the intersection of Tripoli-Sheikh Zayed bin Hamdan Al Nahyan streets up to Emirates Road. Thus, the entire corridor will span about 12 km," he said.

"The project covers improvement of interchanges starting with upgrading the junction of Tripoli-Algeria Streets to a tunnel of three lanes in each direction to serve the inbound traffic from Rabat Street heading to Tripoli Street, besides upgrading the existing intersection to a signalized junction. The completion of these works will cut the waiting time at the intersection from three minutes to less than a minute. The project also includes upgrading the existing roundabout at the intersection of Tripoli- Sheikh Zayed bin Hamdan Al Nahyan streets into a flyover to ensure free movement of vehicles in all directions," he added.

"It also covers the construction of collector roads to serve the turn movements, two underpasses for camel crossings and widening the Camel Crossing No (3) at Emirates Road. Works also include upgrading the intersection at the extension of Tripoli Street and Emirates Road through the construction of a 3-lane bridge to serve the inbound traffic from Tripoli Street to Emirates Road in the direction of Sharjah. The project also includes widening Tripoli Street at several locations along with improvements at Bel Remaitha Club and two signalised junctions to replace existing roundabouts at Muhaisina. The project also includes the construction of a three-lane bridge to serve the traffic from Tripoli Street to Emirates Road in the direction of Sharjah, and a surface intersection for the traffic inbound from Sharjah heading to Emirates Road," Al Tayer said in conclusion.

WAM