Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority today (February 27) opened a key second-level bridge as part of the World Trade Centre Roundabout Development Project. 

The one-km-long structure comprises two lanes with a design capacity of 3,000 vehicles per hour and serves traffic from Sheikh Zayed Road to Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Street towards Al Karama and Deira.

The completed bridge enhances traffic flow from Sheikh Zayed Road towards Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Street, reducing journey time from six minutes to one minute and alleviating congestion at the World Trade Centre Roundabout.

Speaking on the occasion, Mattar Al Tayer, Director General, Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of RTA, said: "The World Trade Centre Roundabout Development Project is one of the most strategic intersection upgrades in Dubai’s road network. The intersection links Sheikh Zayed Road with five major arterial corridors: Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Street, Sheikh Rashid Street, 2nd December Street, Zabeel Palace Street and Al Majlis Street."

"Construction works are progressing ahead of the approved programme, underscoring RTA’s commitment to enhancing mobility and strengthening overall network performance," stated Al Tayer. 

Giving a project update, the RTA chief said the overall project completion has exceeded 60%, with three bridges already opened to traffic. 

The project comprises the construction of five bridges with a combined length of 5,000m, providing free-flow traffic movements in multiple directions. 

In addition to the bridge inaugurated today linking Sheikh Zayed Road to Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Street, two bridges were opened in February to serve traffic from 2nd December Street towards Sheikh Rashid Street and Al Majlis Street leading to Al Mustaqbal Street. 

These structures, comprising two lanes in each direction, extend a total of 2,000m with a combined capacity of approximately 6,000 vehicles per hour. 

The scheme further involves converting the existing World Trade Centre Roundabout into a signalised at-grade intersection to enhance traffic operations and improve network efficiency, it stated.

"Works continue on two additional bridges serving traffic from Sheikh Rashid Street and Al Majlis Street towards 2nd December Street, and both bridges are scheduled for opening in October," explained Al Tayer.

"Upon full completion, the project will reduce average delay at the intersection from 12 minutes to 90 seconds. It will enhance traffic flow from Sheikh Zayed Road towards 2nd December Street, as well as from Al Mustaqbal Street towards Sheikh Zayed Road southbound," he stated.

"The project will provide free-flow traffic movements from 2nd December Street (Jumeirah and Al Satwa) to Al Majlis Street, leading to Al Mustaqbal Street, serving Dubai World Trade Centre and Dubai International Financial Centre, and to Sheikh Rashid Street in the direction of Deira. It will enable uninterrupted traffic movement from Sheikh Zayed Road towards Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Street," he added.-TradeArabia News Service