Roadwork ahead… 

Dubai is set to build a new six-lane tunnel to complement the development of the Al Shindagha Corridor Improvement Project to ease traffic flow between key residential areas.

The Al Khaleej Street Tunnel Project will extend from the end of Infinity Bridge in Deira to the intersection of Al Khaleej and Cairo Streets. The tunnel is set to have six lanes (three lanes in each direction) stretching 1,650 metres. It will accommodate up to 12,000 per hour in both directions.

The expansive project – undertaken by Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) extends 13 kilometres along Sheikh Rashid Road, Al Mina Street, Al Khaleej Street, and Cairo Street. It will encompass the upgrade of 15 intersections set to benefit numerous, residential and developmental communities including Dubai Islands, Dubai Waterfront, Dubai Maritime City, and Mina Rashid. It is projected to cut travel time from 104 minutes to just 16 minutes by 2030.

Phase 4 RTA Shindagha Project

HE Mattar Al Tayer, Director General, Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of the RTA explained that the project will provide ‘a free traffic flow from the Infinity Bridge towards Deira and back.’

He added, ‘The scope includes transforming the crossing of the Cairo and Al Wuheida Streets from a roundabout to a signalised intersection, besides improving Cairo Street and connecting the ramp of the bridge from Dubai Islands to the new tunnel on Al Khaleej Street northward. This phase will serve the residents of Abu Hail, Al Wuheida, and Al Mamzar along with development projects like Dubai Islands, Dubai Waterfront, Waterfront Market, and Hamriya Port.’

Roadworks are already underway on a 4.8-kilometre improvement project on Sheikh Rashid Street, extending from the intersection of Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Street to the Falcon intersection on Al Mina Street.

It includes the construction of three bridges which can accommodate 19,400 vehicles per hour across all lanes. The first bridge will facilitate the traffic flow between Sheikh Rashid Road and Falcon Intersection, accommodating up to 10,800 vehicles per hour in both directions. The second will serve traffic from Falcon Intersection in the direction of Al Wasl Road accommodating 5,400 vehicles per hour. The third will serve traffic inbound from Jumeirah Street heading to Al Mina Street toward Al Wasl Street, accommodating 3,200 vehicles per hour.

The project includes the construction of a 4.8-kilometre roadway with upgrades to surface junctions along Jumeirah Street, Al Mina Street, and Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah Street. Upgrades include constructing pedestrian bridges on Sheikh Rashid Road and Al Mina Street.

No completion date for the tunnel project has been announced.

The Al Shindagha Corridor Improvement Project is split into 5 phases. Several roadworks have already been completed with RTA now working on Phase 4 which includes the Al Khaleej Street Tunnel Project. Phase 5 is yet to be announced.

Images: RTA