In a significant move to bolster Dubai's infrastructure, the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has awarded a contract worth $163.4m (Dh598m) for the upgrade of Oud Metha and Al Asayel roads.
This award is part of the extensive Sheikh Rashid Corridor Development Project aimed at supporting the city's rapid urbanisation and population growth.
The Sheikh Rashid Corridor Development Project is set to connect Al Asayel Street with Al Khail Road through Al Nawras Street, providing vital exits to Oud Metha and Al Nawras Streets.
This strategic upgrade includes the construction of four major intersections, over four kilometres of bridges, and 14km of road enhancements to serve key residential and commercial zones.
Expected to benefit more than 420,000 residents by the end of the decade, the project will significantly increase the capacity of Oud Metha Street from 10,400 vehicles per hour to 15,600, marking a 50% improvement.
Moreover, the upgrade will cut travel times on the route by a staggering 75%, from 20 minutes down to just five.
The project also aims to relieve congestion by expanding the existing bridge from two to three lanes, thus increasing its capacity from 2,200 vehicles per hour to 3,300.
Each of the four major intersections will undergo transformations to enhance traffic flow and capacity, with the first at Oud Metha Street and Sheikh Rashid Street slated for additional lanes and service road improvements.
The second intersection upgrade, at the junction of Oud Metha Street with Al Asayel and Al Nawras Streets, will feature two new bridges to connect with Al Khail Road. The third, at Al Nawras Street and Al Khail Road, will introduce a two-lane bridge and road upgrades. Lastly, the fourth intersection, at Zabeel Palace Street, will benefit from a new left-turn lane and a single-lane tunnel.
This development in Dubai is part of the broader Sheikh Rashid Corridor Development Project, which has already seen the expansion of Ras Al Khor Road from three to six lanes in each direction, spanning 8km and including several new bridges totalling 2,000 metres.
