Sheikh Zayed Road Traffic Diversion For Dubai Canal To Begin In October- RTA

Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has announced that a traffic diversion will begin on Sheikh Zayed Road from October 25 to accommodate the Dubai Water Canal project construction.

The 3km long water canal project, which has a completion date of 2017, will run from Business Bay into the Arabian Gulf, crossing past Safa Park and Jumeirah.

The canal itself will measure six metres deep while bridges will be built eight metres high to allow the passing of yachts and marine craft.

The first phase of the project comprises the construction of a bridge over the Sheikh Zayed Road, with a capacity of eight lanes in each direction. It will also include the diversion of utility lanes impacted by the course of the canal, and lighting and fountain works on the bridge.

RTA confirmed that the company undertaking the construction of the first phase of the Dubai Water Canal project is about to complete the diversion of all utility lines.

The firm will start traffic diversion works on the Sheikh Zayed Road in the direction from Dubai to Abu Dhabi in July, a statement said.

Around 800 metres of Sheikh Zayed Road will be affected by the construction, according to officials.

The RTA added that it has awarded two more contracts for the diversion of traffic for the Dubai Water Canal project.

Apart from the construction of the bridge over Sheikh Zayed Road, the authority is also planning to build bridges over Al Wasl Road and Jumeirah Road.

The third contract is for the drilling works of the canal, landscaping works, constructing four footbridges to link both sides of the canal, and four marine transport stations to ease the mass transit and encourage the use of public and tourist transport modes.

Earlier this year, RTA awarded a construction supervision contract to a joint venture between Parsons and Halcrow. The scope of work included elevating three major roads in Dubai, relocating utilities and constructing the 2.8km long Dubai Water Canal.

Touted to be a major tourist destination, the Dhs2 billion Dubai Water Canal Project will include a new shopping centre, four hotels and 450 restaurants as well as luxury housing and cycling paths.

It is expected to provide new areas measuring 80,000 square metres for public places and facilities, as well as private marinas for boats and a new trade centre at the entrance of the canal.