Dubai: Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has opened a major new bridge as part of the Oud Metha and Al Asayel Streets Development Project, marking another milestone in a scheme designed to improve traffic flow along the Sheikh Rashid Corridor.The newly opened bridge features three lanes, has a capacity of 3,600 vehicles per hour and serves traffic travelling from Al Khail Street towards Al Asayel Street via Al Wasl Club Street.RTA said the overall project has now reached 90% completion. Two new tunnels are scheduled to open by the end of August. The first will connect the service road on Oud Metha Street to the Sheikh Rashid Street intersection for traffic heading towards Bur Dubai, while the second will serve vehicles travelling from Dubai-Al Ain Road towards Al Wasl Club Street, helping to reduce congestion in the area.A dedicated bridge for left-turn traffic from Al Asayel Street towards Oud Metha Street is also set to open as part of the next phase.Part of Sheikh Rashid Corridor upgradeMattar Al Tayer, Director-General and Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of RTA, said the project forms part of the wider Sheikh Rashid Corridor Development Project and is being implemented to accommodate urban development and population growth.He described it as one of the emirate's key road infrastructure projects, comprising four major intersection upgrades, bridges, two tunnels stretching 4.3 kilometres and 14 kilometres of road improvements.The project serves several residential, healthcare and development areas, including Zabeel, Al Jaddaf, Oud Metha, Umm Hurair, Latifa Hospital and Al Wasl Club. The population in areas served by the project is expected to exceed 420,000 by 2030.According to Al Tayer, the development will increase the capacity of Oud Metha Street from 10,400 vehicles per hour in both directions to 15,600 vehicles per hour, a 50% increase. Travel times are also expected to fall from 20 minutes to just five minutes, representing a 75% improvement.Earlier bridge openingsDuring the first quarter of this year, RTA opened two bridges as part of the project.The first bridge, at the intersection of Oud Metha Street, Al Asayel Street and Al Wasl Club Street, consists of two lanes with a capacity of 2,400 vehicles per hour and serves traffic travelling from Al Asayel Street towards Al Wasl Club Street. The second bridge, located at the intersection of Al Wasl Club Street and Al Khail Street, serves traffic travelling from Al Asayel Street towards Al Khail Street and Business Bay Crossing. It consists of two lanes and can accommodate 3,000 vehicles per hour.Major intersection upgradesThe project includes upgrades to four key intersections.At Oud Metha Street and Sheikh Rashid Street, RTA is adding an extra lane to improve left-turn movements towards Al Garhoud Bridge and expanding right-turn capacity towards Dubai-Al Ain Road. A new tunnel connecting the Oud Metha service road to Sheikh Rashid Street towards Bur Dubai is also under construction.At the Oud Metha Street-Al Asayel Street-Al Wasl Club Street intersection, the development includes two bridges linking Al Asayel Street to Al Khail Street via Al Wasl Club Street, as well as a separate bridge serving left-turn traffic towards Oud Metha Street.The Al Wasl Club Street and Al Khail Street intersection is being upgraded through the construction of a two-lane bridge with a capacity of 3,000 vehicles per hour, while improvements to Al Wasl Club Street include expanded exits, new service roads and additional parking spaces.At the Zabeel Palace Street-Al Khail Street-Oud Metha Street intersection, RTA is adding an extra lane for traffic travelling from Al Khail Street towards Dubai-Al Ain Road, doubling capacity from 900 to 1,800 vehicles per hour. A new underpass serving vehicles travelling from Dubai-Al Ain Road to Al Wasl Club Street is also being constructed.The project also includes widening an existing bridge carrying traffic from Al Khail Street towards Oud Metha Street from two lanes to three, increasing capacity from 2,200 vehicles per hour to 3,300 vehicles per hour.
