The road is being widened by the Public Works Department as part of the Heart of Sharjah project, which is currently under development by the Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq) in collaboration with a number of government authorities and departments.

The lanes adjacent to the sea will be opened for traffic from Ahmed bin Darwish Square to Al Muraijah Square. The road has been closed since the end of February. Addressing a press conference here on Tuesday, Marwan bin Jassim Al Sarkal, CEO of Shurooq, announced that the road would be opened for traffic only in one direction now.

Traffic in both direction will be allowed when the construction work is completed by the end of July. Al Sarkal clarified that the development of Sharjah Corniche is one of the strategic projects being implemented to ease the flow of traffic in the emirate.

Commuters might not feel the improvement in traffic flow now as the lanes for traffic in the other direction are still under construction. “However, we have made sure that the footfall in the retail shops along the road will not be affected during the construction,” he said.

Al Sarkal praised the cooperation of various service departments which contributed to the successful completion of this stage of the project, particularly the Sharjah Public Works Department which is carrying out the development work and Sharjah Traffic Police for their support by removing obstacles and finding alternative paths to reduce traffic congestion.

He also lauded the efforts made by the police, municipality and Sharjah Electricity and Water Authority (Sewa). Al Sarkal thanked road users for their “cooperation and understanding during the traffic jam resulting from the construction work, which encourages us to exert our utmost efforts to achieve the project to the highest standards of quality”.

Road to heritage area

The CEO of Shurooq said the project would serve road users, residents and visitors by easing traffic movement and increasing road capacity, thus reducing traffic congestion. The project will be a point of attraction in the emirate and will help attract visitors and tourists to the area which reflects the heritage and traditional architecture of Sharjah with its several souqs and archeological sites showing off the UAE’s heritage and authenticity.

Al Sarkal noted that all parties — individuals and organisations — must collaborate in developing such important sites in the emirate. He said, “This road boasts of strategic and historical importance and gives passage to hundreds of thousands of cars daily. This shows the importance of maintaining and developing it.”

The project includes landscaping, parking areas and transport stations.

Complex work

Omran Al Khumairi, Director of Corporate Communications at the Sharjah Public Works Department, said the infrastructure works that include sewer lines and telecommunication and electricity networks, among others, have been completed.

Due to their complex nature, these works caused some delay at the start of the project, but such delay will not happen in the coming phases. “The countdown to completion has begun. The first phase, which is the most difficult one, has been completed. Despite the intensive coordination with departments, the logistics involved are still complex, as we need to meet various requirements of the construction zone,” he clarified.

The project is located in a vital area between the sea and the heritage district and, therefore, has been carried out with extreme care. Seawater can hinder the work of supervising engineers. “The works are underway and we are trying to remove all obstacles. Success cannot be achieved without the cooperation of all parties,” Al Khumairi remarked.

He also praised the efforts exerted by Shurooq, Sewa, Sharjah Municipality and Sharjah Police.

Heart of Sharjah project

The project is evidence of Shurooq’s eagerness to carry out the set plan and execute the Heart of Sharjah project, which was announced in 2010.

‘Heart of Sharjah’ is a five-phase, 15-year historical preservation and restoration project that aims to revitalise the heritage area in Sharjah. It is considered to be one of the region’s largest tourism and heritage projects. Construction work in the first phase has already commenced.

Two committees were set up to supervise the project. The first is chaired by Shaikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairperson of Shurooq, and it comprises representatives from the Ruler’s Office, the Sharjah Art Foundation, the Sharjah Museums Department, and the Heritage Department. The second includes representatives of the Sharjah Municipality, the Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority, the Department of Public Works, and the Department of Planning and Survey, Sharjah Police and Sharjah Civil Defence.

The multi-phase project includes ongoing development works with the aim of reviving the historic and heritage areas, re-establishing the link that was there in the 1950s and transforming Sharjah into a tourist and trade destination with modern, contemporary artistic touches. The project includes museums, restaurants, cafes, retail outlets and other amenities to prepare the emirate to host high-profile events such as the Sharjah Biennial and the Sharjah Heritage Days, among many others.

afkarali@khaleejtimes.com