New tunnel to ease traffic congestion in old Dubai

Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority has announced plans to open a tunnel of four lanes in each direction on Sheikh Rashid Street this Thursday.

The authority said the May 3 opening would “greatly improve the traffic flow” on the street and comes under wider improvement works spanning the Sheikh Rashid and Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Streets Intersection.

A two-lane bridge on Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Street and a one-lane bridge stretching from Zabeel Street to Sheikh Rashid Street opened in the area in February and have improved traffic flow in the direction of Al Karama and the World Trade Centre junction.

“The project is situated at the intersection of Sheikh Rashid Street leading to Al Shandagha northward, and Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Street leading to the intersection with Al Kuwait Street,” said RTA director general and chairman Mattar Al Tayer.

“The project is part of RTA’s master plan for the improvement of roads, bridges, crossings and underpasses to accommodate the growing traffic volumes, and ease the traffic movement in all parts of Dubai Emirate.

The wider improvement workers include a signalised junction to provide free turns from main roads to subsidiary roads and lighting, pavement, irrigation, sewage, storm-water drainage works.

Three new bridges designed to ease traffic flow at Dubai International Airport opened on Friday.

Read: New bridges to ease traffic flow near Dubai International Airport