Work on the Al Houdh Interchange on Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road in Dubai, UAE, is currently 80 per cent complete and the project is expected to open in November, a senior official said.

Mattar Al Tayer, director-general and chairman of the board of executive directors of Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), said he anticipated the completion of all project works, removal of all temporary traffic diversions at the Al Houdh roundabout (R/A), and the full opening of the project by the end of November this year.

“The project comprises transforming Al Houdh R/A from a signallised junction to a flyover offering smooth traffic flow in all directions. It covers the construction of four east-west bridges along the stretch of Al Yalayis Road, comprising three lanes in each direction with a total length of 600 m. It also includes modifying the path of impacted roads to ensure integrated traffic movement in the interchange,” explained Al Tayer.

The project also includes widening the Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road in a sector extending from Jebel Ali-Lehbab R/A up to the interchange leading to Al Maktoum International Airport from three to six in each direction over a 7-km-long sector. The RTA had completed and opened this stage for motorists last February. Work is currently under way on widening a 4 km-long sector extending from Jebel Ali-Lehbab R/A northwards up to Al Houdh R/A, and is set for completion with the opening of the flyover in November this year.

It covers construction of a service road in both directions of Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road in a sector extending north-south of 4 km in each direction from Al Khail Road interchange to Al Houdh R/A to ease the entry/exit from and to nearby areas. Completion rate on  the road works, services and lighting had reached 87 per cent, and these parts of the project are set for opening by early October this year, stated Al Tayer.

“The completion of Al Houdh Interchange Project will eliminate the traffic overlapping in the existing R/A and ensure smooth vehicular flow in all directions. Traffic will flow smoothly from Al Yalayis Road to the east in the direction of the Dubai Investment Park, and to the west in the direction of the Sheikh Zayed Road and Jebel Ali Free Zone. It will also ensure smooth north-south traffic flow from Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road to Abu Dhabi and vice versa,” added Al Tayer. - TradeArabia News Service