Abu Dhabi’s $1.4bn road to Saudi border ‘59% complete’
Mafraq-Ghuwaifat International Highway project on track – officials
A road project worth AED 5.3 billion ($1.4bn) linking Mafraq in Abu Dhabi with the Saudi border is 59% complete, officials said.
The Mafraq-Ghuwaifat International Highway project, which will link Abu Dhabi’s western region with the Ghuwaifat border post, will help facilitate commercial transport, state news agency WAM reported.
The announcement was made by the Abu Dhabi General Services Company (Musanada), in collaboration with the Department of Municipal Affairs and Transport (DMAT).
Teams are working around the clock to deliver the project by mid-2017, WAM said.
The project includes the construction of 15 new upper interchanges, along with improvements to existing interchanges.
Faisal Al Suwaidi, DMAT’s Director of Main Roads Divisions, confirmed that 59% of Mafraq-Ghuwaifat Highway project had been completed.
“This project complements several other projects that aim to accommodate the expected increase in traffic volume, in order to keep pace with the accelerated growth experienced across all areas, improve traffic safety on roads, eliminate congestions due to huge numbers of vehicles using this road, reduce the number of traffic accidents and increase safety ratios, as well as facilitate commercial land transport with neighboring countries,” he said.
The highway project extends from Mafraq to the international border with Saudi Arabia at Ghuwaifat, passing through Al Ruwais industrial centre, said Hamdan Ahmed Al Mazrouei, Musanada’s Acting Roads Director.
“The project encompasses construction of new lanes in both directions, from 2 to 4 lanes in each direction along the 182km-long section stretching from Mafraq until Baynounah Forest area, and from 2 to 3 lanes along the 46km-long section from Baraka to Ghuwaifat,” he added.
The project will also include a camel underpass close to Silaa and Ghuwaifat, serving camel owners in the areas surrounding the road and the camel race track close to Al Silaa area.
