91% of work on the $173 million Madinat Zayed-Al Mirfa Road has been completed, with the 52.2 km long artery scheduled to be ready for inauguration in February 2019, it has been announced.
According to a report by WAM, which cited the Department of Transport in Abu Dhabi, and Abu Dhabi General Services Company (Musanada), work on the project is moving at a steady pace. The scope of work includes the construction of road work from Madinat Zayed to Al Mirfa, which is located in the Al Dhafra region of Abu Dhabi.
The project involves a two-lane dual carriageway, road lighting, an upper interchange, three under-crossings for U-turns, turnarounds and crossings for wild animals. Four ducts and three utility protection bridges are also part of the construction package.
Once complete, the road will help reduce travelling time and improve the transportation of people and goods by 50%, according to the plan developed by Musanada, which is in line with the highest international standards and specifications.
Badr Al Qamzi, director of Integrated Transport Planning (DoT), said that the road is a major infrastructure project, and that it would help strengthen the economy and society of the Al Dhafra Region, and meet the needs of residents in terms of services and facilities, according to the highest safety and security standards, while also providing integrated transport services and solutions, and adapting environmentally-friendly technologies.
He added that speeds on the road will be set at 140km/h and that the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company plans to establish several service stations on both sides of the road. The project is part of Abu Dhabi’s strategic roads network plan to connect cities of the emirate, he noted.
Saleh Al Mazrouie, executive director of Road Network, Musanada, said the road will have the capacity of 5,400 vehicles per hour on both directions at peak hours. He expected the capacity to increase to 40,000 vehicles by 2020 and 50,000 by 2030.
”The road has six exits and three roundabouts so as to ease traffic congestion and ensure safe, smooth vehicular traffic,” he said.