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Traffic jams in Dubai area to ease up in a week

Dubai - The opening of phase 1 of Al Awir Road Improvement Project would contribute to smooth traffic flow.

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The frequent traffic snarls around Dubai's Dragon Mart would ease up within a week, with the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) announcing that a key road project would open to traffic on July 14.
According to the RTA, the opening of phase 1 of Al Awir Road Improvement Project would contribute to a smooth flow of traffic from the Dubai International City (DIC) heading to Downtown Dubai. This phase included the construction of a bridge with an estimated capacity of 1,000 vehicles per hour, which will ease the traffic pressure on the roundabout at the junction of Al Awir and Sheikh Zayed Bin Hamdan Al Nahyan Streets. For motorists coming from Hatta via Al Awir Road, this will mean easier access to the Dragon Mart and International City.
Mattar Al Tayer, director-general and Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of the RTA, said: "The contractor is completing final construction works as part of the project that aims to ensure a smooth traffic movement on Al Awir Road from the intersection of the Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Road to the roundabout of Sheikh Zayed Bin Hamdan Street, and improve the left and U-turns from the International City and Dragon Mart.
"It involved the construction of a free interchange in the form of a two-lane flyover from Warsan (1) Street to Al Awir Road westward in the direction of Downtown Dubai."
This will enable turns for traffic running from Al Awir Road to the Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Road, and free traffic movement from Hatta to Dubai via Al Awir Road directly to Warsan (1) Street and entrances to the International City and Dragon Mart through a one-lane bridge.
"In addition, it includes a three-lane service road parallel to Al Awir Road in both directions to ensure free traffic movement and separate it from the traffic of the International City, Dragon Mart and Al Warqaa. "It also included turning the primary four roundabouts of the International City (International City Street-1) into signalised junctions, and widening the existing lane by adding one or two lanes in some sectors," added Al Tayer.

Phase 2

The RTA is currently working on phase II of the project. It encompasses improvements on Al Manama Street, upgrading its intersections with Warsan (1) Street, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Road, and the extension of the International City Street (main entrance of the International City).
Works also include upgrading Al Manama-Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Road intersection, and widening the flyover passing over the Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Road from three to four lanes in each direction, which will increase the capacity of the bridge from 4,500 vehicles per hour to 6,000. It will increase the number of lanes of slipways extending from Ras Al Khor Road to Sharjah, and from the International City to Jebel Ali and Abu Dhabi, from one lane to two. This increase will double the capacity of these lanes from 800 vehicles per hour to 1,600.
Works also include widening Al Manama Street between the Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Road and the entrance of the International City from three to six lanes in each direction. This improvement will increase the intake of the road by 1,500 vehicles per hour per lane. Al Manama Street will also be widened in the sector from the entrance of the International City to the Academic City Street from two to five lanes in each direction, which will enhance the capacity of this street from 3,000 vehicles per hour to 7,500.
Phase 2 also includes upgrading the intersection of Al Manama Street with the entrance of the International City by converting it into a surface signalised junction, enabling free movement in all directions. Works include constructing a flyover of three lanes in each direction to allow traffic to cross freely over Al Manama Street that will increase the traffic flow by 4,500 vehicles per hour. 
reporters@khaleejtimes.com