Karama flyover opens to traffic
IT IS PART OF A DH611M SHAIKH KHALIFA-SHAIKH RASHID ROADS INTERSECTION UPGRADE
Dh611m interchange upgrade includes an 8-lane underpass |
Afour-lane flyover and an access bridge opened yesterday, easing traffic moving into and out of Karama and Bur Dubai.
Part of the phase one of the 13km-long Shindagha Corridor, a major infrastructure upgrade starting from Wafi Interchange and stretching all the way to Al Mamzar, the new flyover at the Sana intersection will ease movement from Karama towards Shaikh Zayed Road and back.
The Dh611-million upgrade by the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) also includes an eight-lane underpass, which will be ready by the second quarter of this year.
The perennially clogged intersection, which was previously signalised, is the crossing point of Shaikh Rashid Road and Shaikh Khalifa Street, receiving traffic from Al Garhoud bridge, Oud Metha, Shaikh Zayed Road, Bur Dubai and Al Shindagha areas.
“The project is part of RTA’s master plan for the improvement of roads, bridges, crossings and underpasses to accommodate the growing traffic volumes, and ease the traffic movement in all parts of Dubai. It is also part of the overall efforts to implement RTA’s strategic plan for upgrading roads and transport infrastructure in Dubai,” said Mattar Al Tayer, director-general and chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of RTA.
The three-tier upgrade will also increase the capacity of the junction at the ground level, catering to the growing traffic demands.
Once completed, more lanes will be added to the roads leading to the intersection, with five lanes leading from the direction of Wafi intersection on Shaikh Rashid Road, up from the current three lanes, while the opposite direction will also have five lanes leading to the intersection.
The Shindagha Corridor project is being carried out in three phases, with work on the second phase expected to start later this year. The Dh3.8-billion phase two includes a 12-lane Shindagha bridge connecting Al Shindagha and Al Ras as well as development of all the intersections along the corridor.