The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, has initiated a significant project aimed at improving access points for four neighbourhoods, with the goal of supporting urban expansion and enhancing the quality of life for residents.

These upgrades are expected to increase traffic capacity by 50% to 80%.

The project includes the construction of a 7.5km road linking Al Awir 1 to Emirates Road, which will serve more than 50,000 residents by doubling the vehicle capacity to 3,000 vehicles per hour.

In Al Barsha South, the ongoing Hessa Street Development Project is set to benefit approximately 75,000 residents by adding a third left-turn lane at the Hessa Street and Al Barsha South intersection and widening Hessa Street by two lanes over a 1,114m stretch.

This expansion will increase the traffic capacity from 6,000 to 9,000 vehicles per hour and reduce wait times at the signal from four minutes to just one.

In Wadi Al Safa 3, direct access from Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road will be provided, reducing travel distance by 10km and cutting travel time from 10 minutes to two minutes.

Additionally, RTA is working on a project to add entry and exit points for Al Warqa, which includes an 8km expansion of the internal road network. This is expected to increase capacity by 5,000 vehicles per hour and reduce travel time by 80%, from 20 minutes to 3.5 minutes.

More than 350,000 residents will benefit from a new entry and exit for Al Warqa from Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road, an improved Al Warqa 1 Street and renewed roundabouts to signal-controlled intersections. The improvements will increase the capacity of Al Warqa 1 Street by 30%.

Furthermore, RTA plans to develop internal roads in Al Warqa 3 and Al Warqa 4 and construct a 16km cycling track for connecting with nearby routes.

RTA director general, chairman of the Board of Executive Directors Mattar Al Tayer said: “This project reflects RTA’s commitment to continually enhance infrastructure in residential areas, including road networks, lighting, and stormwater drainage, to accommodate increasing traffic volumes.

“With new entry and exit points connecting to Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road, Emirates Road, Sheikh Zayed bin Hamdan Al Nahyan Street, and Hessa Street, the project will benefit over 400,000 residents. It also includes comprehensive roadworks and traffic solutions to improve mobility for residents and visitors across these communities.”