Dubai: Dubai Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has awarded a contract for the ‘Improvement of the Umm Suqeim Street Project. The initiative is in line with the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, to improve the infrastructure of the road network to match Dubai’s sustained growth. The ruler also aims to accommodate urban and population needs and ensure smooth traffic flow.
The project will have a follow-up from H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of Dubai Executive Council.
The work worth AED332 million ($90.3 million), extends from the intersection with Al Khail Road to the intersection with Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road,
Mr. Mattar Al Tayer, Director-General and chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of RTA, stated that the ‘Improvement of the Umm Suqeim Street Project’ is crucial to enhance connectivity between east-west transverse streets and north-south vertical streets. This project complements RTA’s continuous efforts to improve the corridor.
In 2013, RTA completed the widening of Umm Suqeim Street from the intersection of Sheikh Zayed Road to the intersection of Al Khail Road. The project included the construction of two bridges with three lanes in each direction. Three pedestrian bridges, a bridge on Umm Suqeim Street at its intersection with Dubai Hills and Al Barsha entrances were constructed as part of the bridges and roads leading to the Dubai Hills Mall project.
The 4.6 km long project extends from Al Khail Road to Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road. It includes an upgrade of the intersection with Al Barsha South Street, located near Kings School. RTA aims to achieve the upgrade by constructing an 800-metre-long tunnel with four lanes in each direction on Umm Suqeim Street. The authority also intends to build a signalized surface intersection through the project.
Mr. Al Tayer explained that the project aims to improve the connectivity of four major traffic corridors in Dubai: Sheikh Zayed Road, Al Khail Road, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road, and Emirates Road. It will enhance the capacity of the streets to accommodate up to 16,000 vehicles per hour in both directions. It will ensure smoother traffic and significantly reduce the travel time between Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road and Al Khail Road from 9.7 to 3.8 minutes.
According to Mr. Al Tayer, the project will serve various residential and development areas, including Al Barsha South 1, 2, and 3, and Dubai Hills. These areas have an estimated population of about two million people.
RTA completed the initial phase of the Improvement of Umm Suqeim Street Project in 2013. This phase covered the sector between Sheikh Zayed Road and Al Khail Road. It saw the construction of two 3-lane bridges. The first spans the eastern street parallel to Al Asayel Street, and the second crosses the western street parallel to the First Al Khail Road.
The work also included the construction of two signalized intersections at the junctures with Al Asayel Street and First Al Khail Road. Furthermore, three pedestrian bridges were constructed over Umm Suqeim Street to enhance pedestrian access between the Al Quoz and Al Barsha.
RTA opened a central 500-metre bridge in 2020 as part of the Bridges and Roads leading to the Dubai Hills Mall Project. The bridge is at the intersection of Umm Suqeim Street and the entrances of Dubai Hills and Al Barsha areas. It has four lanes in each direction. The lanes are capable of handling up to 16,000 vehicles per hour.