New road links to reduce travel time between Sharjah and Dubai

Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) opened the Al Khawaneej Roads Improvement Project to vehicles on Saturday, which is expected to significantly improve traffic movement in the area.

The project includes an underpass of three lanes in each direction extending 680 metres at the junction of Al Khawaneej and Sheikh Zayed bin Hamdan Al Nahyan, new roads as well as a bridge of two lanes in each direction at the junction of Al Amardi and Emirates Roads in the direction of Al Awir. 

There's also a new surface signalised junction to ensure free and safe traffic flow on Al Khawaneej Road, and an upgraded roundabout at the intersection of Al Khawaneej-Al Amardi Roads which has now been converted to a signalised junction.

His Excellency Mattar Mohammed Al Tayer, Director-General, Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of the Roads and Transport Authority, said, “The Al Khawaneej Roads Project is one of the key strategic projects for improving the links between Dubai and Sharjah through the improvement of vertical roads linking with the Emirates Road and Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road up to the Airport Street.”

.@rta_dubai opens Al Khawaneej Roads Improvement Project to improve #Dubai – Sharjah link https://t.co/aEUimWY1lX pic.twitter.com/If8SpUnF87

— Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) April 17, 2021

Benefits of Al Khawaneej Roads Improvement Project
•    Construction of three main interchanges
•    Cuts journey time from Emirates Road to Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road from 25 minutes to 9 minutes
•    Improves links between Airport Street, Al Awir and Al Khawaneej communities
•    Doubles capacity of Al Khawaneej intersection from 8,000 to 16,000 vehicles per hour
•    Reduces waiting time at the intersection of Al Khawaneej - Sheikh Zayed bin Hamdan Al Nahyan Roads from 330 seconds to 45 seconds
•    Cuts waiting time at Al Khawaneej - Al Amardi junction from 120 seconds to 60 seconds

Supporting Corridors

The construction of Al Khawaneej Roads Improvement Project follows the completion and opening of all phases of Improvements of the Airport Street Project involving upgrading four intersections: Rashidiya, Nad Al Hamar, Marrakech, and Casablanca.

The project had immensely improved traffic flow, reduced waiting times and sorting out congestion caused by overlapping traffic. 

It also follows the opening of the Tripoli Road Improvement Project providing a link between Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road and Emirates Road.

The opening of this 12-km road eased the traffic flow, improved the entry points of Al Warqaa and Mirdif along Tripoli Road and enhanced the safety along the corridor.

Work is currently underway to build a footbridge near Arabian Centre at Al Khawaneej Road, service roads extending 23 km along Al Khawaneej and Al Amardi Roads, and some improvements in three junctions at Algiers Street which will be upgraded to signalised junctions.

Other construction underway include streetlights, rainwater drainage system, directional signs, road markings, and protection works for road safety.