HE Mattar Al Tayer, Director-General and Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) in Dubai, has announced the completion of 85% of works in the 7th Interchange on the Sheikh Zayed Road (SZR) Project, and Al Yalayes Road Improvement Project, and that both projects would be opened on 15 September 2018.

“The two projects will enhance the link between the Sheikh Zayed Road and both Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road and Emirates Road. They will ease the traffic flow on the Sheikh Zayed Road by diverting the traffic inbound from Abu Dhabi on the Sheikh Zayed Road to Al Yalayes Road and on to the Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road and Emirates Road. They will also boost the business and the movement of goods from and to Jebel Ali Port,” said Al Tayer.

"The projects have been undertaken in implementation of the directives of HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to keep pace with the upswing seen by Dubai, meet the rapid urbanisation of Dubai and bring happiness to people.

“The Project will step up the capacity of Al Yalayes Road to almost 10 thousand vehicles per hour per direction. It will also cut short the transit time between the 7th Interchange on the Sheikh Zayed Road and the Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road to as low as 4 minutes,” he continued.

“The contractors of the two projects have completed 85% of works in main bridges on the 7th Interchange on the SZR and Phase I of flyovers of Al Asayel, First Al Khail and Al Yalayes Roads,” explained Al Tayer.

7th Interchange

"Constructing the 7th Interchange of  Sheikh Zayed Road Project comprises two phases. Phase I covers improvement of traffic flow from and to SZR and Al Yalayes Road eastward. This phase will be opened on 15 September this year. Phase II covers improvement of traffic flow from SZR to Dubal Street in both directions; and will be opened in the last quarter of this year,” stated Al Tayer.

Works of the 7th Interchange on Al Yalayes Road Improvement project includes the construction of a bridge of four lanes, branching out of Al Yalayes Road into two bridges of two lanes each. The first one is bound to Abu Dhabi,and the other one leads to Dubal Street, JAFZA and Port. It also includes improving the right-side turn to make three lanes stretching out of Sheikh Zayed Road to Al Yalayes Road in the East, and two lanes fromAl Yalayes Road to the Sheikh Zayed Road in the direction of Dubai.

It also includes the construction of two lanes in the direction of Sheikh Zayed Road and on to Dubal Street, and two lanes from Dubal Street to  Sheikh Zayed Road in the direction of Abu Dhabi. The project also includes improving the light signals at Gates No. 1 and 2 of Jebel Ali Port, and the construction of another bridge of two lanes to serve the traffic inbound from Dubal Street in Jebel Free Zone & Port crossing over Sheikh Zayed Road in the direction of Al Yalayes Road eastward," explained Al Tayer.

Al Yalayes and Al Asayel Roads

As part of the various phases of the Parallel Roads Project, Al Yalayes Road is being constructed over six km extending from the 7th Interchange of the Sheikh Zayed Road to Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road at Al Houdh Interchange. RTA will also develop Al Asayel Road extending 5 km to link with JAFZA, Jumeirah Islands, and Emirates Hills.

Phase I includes increasing the number of lanes of Al Yalayes Road from three to five lanes in each direction from Sheikh Zayed Road to Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road and Emirates Road. In a subsequent stage, the number of lanes of Al Yalayes Road will be increased from three to five lanes in the direction from Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road and Emirates Road Sheikh Zayed Road such that the Road will be of five lanes in both directions with a capacity of 10 thousand vehicles per hour.

Phase II also includes completing the remaining lanes from and to the upper interchanges of First Al Khail and Al Asayel Roads along Al Yalayes Road with a capacity of 7 lanes in each direction. It will ensure smooth traffic flow from and to Al Asayel and First Al Khail Roads.

The scope of work includes the construction of two elevated signalized junctions with a design that caters the needs of Etihad Rail path. The First is at the intersection of Al Yalayes and First Al Khail Roads, and the second at the intersection of Al Yalayes and Al Asayel Roads. It also includes a flyover to serve the traffic inbound from Al Asayel Road southward to Al Yalayes Road eastward.

The project includes the completion of Al Asayel Road Extension over five km with three lanes in each direction to link JAFZA with Jumeirah Islands and Emirates Hills. It will be fitted with a two-lane flyover running about 2 km across Al Asayel Road to serve the traffic inbound from Qarn Al Sabkha Road in the direction of Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road. It will be linked with free-moving flyovers to serve as exits for traffic generated by Al Furjan development project. It also includes the construction of six surface light signals on Al Asayel Road to provide entry & exit points for some of the existing development projects such as Discovery Gardens and Al Furjan.