Along with the extension of Business Bay Canal, the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) is considering to launch Al Wasl Road development project, said a source at the authority on Sunday.
“The authority is considering Al Wasl Road development project, which stretches as long as 11 kilometres from Al Wasl-Al Safa signal junction to Al Wasl intersection with Al Manara Street. The development will take into account the bridge which will be built as part of the extension of the Business Bay Canal,” the source told Khaleej Times.
He added that the four traffic signals on the Al Wasl Road will be replaced with tunnels to confirm the smooth flow traffic on the road. The road which has two lanes on each direction will also be developed into three lanes on each direction. The signals to be replaced with tunnels are those at Al Safa, Al Hadiqa, Umm Al Sheig and Al Manara, added the source.
The Business Bay Canal extension project includes elevating part of the Shaikh Zayed Road above the canal to allow a free traffic flow. “The project includes modifying the lanes of the roads to be affected, linking the two banks of the new canal. Almost 800 metres of the Shaikh Zayed Road will be affected, said the source.
The RTA will invite three tenders in connection with the extension of the Business Bay Canal project, one for the marine transition stations and the other two on road and bridge development works.
The final phase of the canal will stretch from Shaikh Zayed Road near Emirates Airlines building passing along Al Safa Park, Jumeirah second area up to the southern portion of Jumeirah Beach Park. As per the project, the intersecting roads — Shaikh Zayed Road, Al Wasl Road and Jumeirah Road— will be elevated up to 8.5 metres across the canal. These bridges will allow free marine navigation in the canal 24 hours a day.