Dubai's RTA begins SZR diversions for $545m canal project

Dubai's transport authority on Sunday said it has started work on the initial phase of the major traffic diversions on Sheikh Zayed Road for the construction of the $545 million Dubai Canal project.

The Roads and Transport Authority said in a statement that the first diversion in place is in the Dubai - Abu Dhabi direction near Safa Park.

The diversion, which is set to be completed by the end of next October, stretches for 1km and keeps the same number of the existing lanes to avoid any negative repercussions on the traffic flow throughout the project construction period, the RTA said.

Maitha bin Udai, CEO of RTA Traffic and Roads Agency, said: "The Abu Dhabi-bound traffic stream will be routed to the new traffic diversion, while maintaining the traffic movement outbound from Abu Dhabi on the Sheikh Zayed Road by diverting it to the lanes currently directed towards Abu Dhabi.

"Parallel to this, the RTA will be starting construction works on the northern bridge in the direction of Dubai on the Sheikh Zayed Road nearby the metro line after routing the traffic movement directly to the traffic diversion," she said.

Construction of the Dubai Water Canal project will be split in three contracts - the first comprising the construction of bridges across the Water Canal on the Sheikh Zayed Road consisting of eight lanes in each direction.

The second contract includes the construction of bridges across the Water Canal on the Jumeirah and Al Wasl Roads spanning three lanes on the Jumeirah Road and two lanes on Al Wasl Road in each direction, in addition to a flyover from Al Wasl Road to Al Hadiqa Road in the direction of the Sheikh Zayed Road.

The third contract encompasses the drilling of a 3.2km-long canal, landfilling works of the island, constructing sea wall around the island to prepare the sand beach, building marina for boats and the water bus, and constructing three pedestrian bridges above the canal to link the Jumeirah Beach Walk with Safa Park Walk.