Construction of a new 62km highway linking Abu Dhabi with Dubai is 60% complete, with the AED2.1 billion ($572 million) project running to schedule, according to a government statement.
The road, spanning from Seih Shuaib to Sweihan Interchange, is expected to be complete by the end of this year, according to the Abu Dhabi General Services Company (Musanada) and Department of Transport (DoT).
“The new highway will relieve traffic pressure on the current Abu Dhabi-Dubai E11, bring down the number of accidents and connect Khalifa Port and Industrial Zone with the current and future road network east E11,” said Eng. Faisal Ahmed Al Suwaidi, the director general of highways.
When complete, the project will form part of an additional road linking Abu Dhabi with Dubai and the Northern Emirates, he added.
Engineer Omar Mattar Al Mansouri, Acting Director of Roads at Musanada, noted that the progress on the project went as per the scheduled plan, with 54% of package A and 66% of package B now complete.
The highway, which runs four lanes in both directions, is an extension of the Mohammed bin Zayed Road (E311) in Seih Shuaib at the Dubai border, Al Mansouri said. It will pass through the Al Maha Forest, Kizad, Al Ajban Road, and Zayed Military City to Sweihan Road.
In addition, it will also include six bridges and six underground passes, boosting safety on the road, he noted.