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The National
3 days ago
- Automotive
- The National
Dubai uses laser technology for Emirates Road repair project in time for first day of school
Dubai has harnessed laser beam technology to identify cracks and potholes for a major repair programme on one of the country's busiest motorways to help ensure smooth travel on the first day back at school. The Roads and Transport Authority is in the final stages of extensive rehabilitation work on Emirates Road, with work to be completed by the time more than one million pupils return to classrooms on Monday, August 25. RTA teams pinpointed a 14km stretch of road that was in need of essential repairs to boost safety and improve traffic flow. 'The laser beam technology helps to identify road defects to improve the transport network and safety,' said Abdullah Lootah, director of roads and facilities maintenance at RTA. 'The data showed defects in this stretch due to large traffic especially from lorries. The repairs in two directions towards Abu Dhabi and Sharjah,' he added. 'Major highways connecting different emirates needs more repairs than the interior roads due to lorries movement.' The cutting-edge technology, first unveiled in 2023, is able to detect cracks as small as 1mm through the use of high-resolution cameras and laser scanning capabilities. Data gathered during road tours is analysed and used to help guide maintenance and repair schedules, ensuring roads that are most in need of work are attended to first. Mr Lootah said the lifespan of roads can be between 20 to 25 years. The authority rehabilitation plan involved adding two to four layers of asphalt in the fast and slow lanes. The laser patrol works by scanning the road surface and instantly detecting cracks. Without human interaction, the system's AI algorithms process the captured data in real time, analysing various parameters, such as crack width, depth and location. It then generates comprehensive reports for RTA engineers, enabling them to prioritise and plan repairs or resurfacing projects. By detecting and addressing these cracks at an early stage, the RTA aims to extend the lifespan of the road infrastructure and reduce maintenance costs. The authority launched the project during the summer season to limit the disruption caused by roadworks. 'Major work such as laying the asphalt was done on weekends. The full repair will finish on August 25 and the road will be ready for commuters with the beginning of the new academic year,' Mr Lootah added. First day back at school – in pictures Authorities across the Emirates will put traffic calming measures around schools to prepare for the start of the academic year. Motorists can also have four black points cleared from their licence if they avoid accidents and abide by traffic rules on August 25, under the annual Accident-Free Day campaign. Emirates Road improvement plan Emirates Road, known as the E611, stretches 110km and is a key alternative route to Sheikh Zayed Road and Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road for drivers in Ras Al Khaimah, Umm Al Quwain, Ajman and Sharjah. It allows motorists to travel to Abu Dhabi without having to go through central Dubai. The Emirates Road development project, being led by the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure separately to the RTA work, will increase the number of lanes from three to five on a 25km stretch linking Al Badee Interchange in Sharjah to Umm Al Quwain. The move will boost the capacity of the route to 9,000 vehicles an hour, an increase of 65 per cent. The scheme will also include an upgrade of Interchange No 7 on Emirates Road, through the construction of six bridges to serve a combined 13,200 vehicles an hour. Work on the project is scheduled to begin in September and is expected to take two years.
Khaleej Times
4 days ago
- Automotive
- Khaleej Times
Dubai's Emirates Road to reopen fully after major upgrade over last 2 months
Commuters travelling by Emirates Road will be able to let out a sigh of relief from August 25 as the repair work of one of Dubai's busiest highways nears completion. The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has been working for the past two months to reconstruct and resurface a 14-kilometre stretch in the city. According to the RTA, the project is being completed in stages to avoid major traffic disruptions. 'Every 48 to 56 hours, we finish one leg of the reconstruction, covering about 400 to 500 metres of road. By August 25, both sides of the highway will be open, ensuring a smoother flow of traffic,' said Abdullah Lootah, director of Road and Facilities Maintenance at the Traffic and Roads Agency. Why was the road repaired? Lootah explained that the decision to reconstruct the road came after inspection vehicles detected a drop in the Pavement Quality Index (PQI) to around 85 per cent in some sections, mainly due to heavy truck traffic. 'Our target is to maintain roads at 90 per cent PQI or higher. If the index falls below 90 per cent, we assess the damage. In this case, the heavy usage made reconstruction the best option,' he said. Stay up to date with the latest news. Follow KT on WhatsApp Channels. The reconstruction involved removing 14 cm of road surface from the fast lanes and replacing it with five to six new layers of asphalt for maximum smoothness. The slow lanes, which carry less load, were dug out to a depth of about eight centimetres and resurfaced with fewer layers. Advanced technology used The RTA used two special inspection vehicles during the project. One vehicle, equipped with cameras and lasers, scans the surface for cracks, potholes, and 14 other types of road defects. The second vehicle measures the road's smoothness using the International Roughness Index (IRI). This technology helped the team decide which sections needed preventive maintenance and which required full reconstruction. Work done in stages The 14-kilometre project was divided into multiple stages to keep traffic moving. 'We worked on one side of the road at a time, completing each section quickly before moving to the next. This method allowed us to minimise inconvenience to commuters while ensuring the quality of the reconstruction,' said Lootah. Daily users of Emirates Road say the repair work has caused some delays, but most agree the short-term inconvenience will be worth it. 'I travel from Sharjah to Dubai every day, and the past two months have been tough. The diversions slowed me down by at least 30 to 40 minutes every morning and evening,' said Hanan Katib, a resident of Sharjah who works as a marketing manager at an FMGC firm in Dubai. He mentioned that for the last two months, traffic at many stretches across the Emirates Road in Dubai had been at a snails pace, and it consumed a lot of time. 'But if the road is smoother and safer after August 25, I'll be happy to get back to my normal travel time.' Similarly, Reem Al Qaidi who commutes to her office in Al Quoz from Al Siyuh in Sharjah also mentioned that the construction on Emirates Road has delayed her arrival time to office and at home by nearly 45 minutes. 'Some mornings it felt like the traffic would never end. I even tried alternative routes, but they were worse. I am glad the RTA has done this work in stages so that the road was shut for the traffic.' 'Once the work is finished, it will make my daily drive faster and less stressful. I am happy that I will be reaching home faster that what it is currently.' Smooth ride ahead Lootah said the reconstructed road will not only improve driving comfort but also reduce wear and tear on vehicles. 'A smooth road means less vibration, less fuel consumption, and a better driving experience overall. We want our roads to remain the safest and most reliable in the world,' he said. By August 25, motorists can expect all lanes towards Sharjah and Abu Dhabi to be fully open, restoring normal traffic flow and making daily commutes smoother for thousands of drivers.
Emirates 24/7
30-01-2025
- Business
- Emirates 24/7
RTA Introduces Three Traffic Solutions to Enhance Safety and Traffic Flow on Sheikh Zayed Road
Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) executed three major traffic improvements on Sheikh Zayed Road to enhance road capacity and efficiency. These measures align with RTA's strategic plans to develop the road network and mobility systems, ensuring smooth traffic flow in key areas to keep pace with the emirate's rapid urban growth and expansion. Abdullah Lootah, Director of Road and Facilities Maintenance at the Traffic and Roads Agency stated: "RTA places great emphasis on enhancing road network, with the Sheikh Zayed Road being a top priority. As one of the emirate's key traffic corridors, it serves as a vibrant economic hub, surrounded by residential districts and major commercial and financial landmarks, including Dubai International Financial Centre, Burj Khalifa, and Dubai Mall, along with a wide range of global corporations, banks, and investment institutions. It is also home to numerous hotels and entertainment facilities, making it a vital artery for daily commuting and commercial activity." 'The first of these traffic improvements involves extending merging distances between Umm Al Sheif Street and Al Manara Street in the direction of Abu Dhabi, along with introducing an additional lane for traffic heading towards Al Manara. The enhancement is set to increase vehicle capacity in this direction by 30%, significantly improving entry and exit flows,' he added. The second improvement involves modifications at the exit of the service road in front of the Shangri-La Hotel, leading to the First Interchange on Sheikh Zayed Road, near Dubai Mall. Works involve expanding merging distances between the entry from the service road and the exit towards Al Safa Street and Dubai Mall, aiming to improve traffic flow and ease congestion at this key location. "The third improvement involves extending the merging distance between Al Marabi Street and Al Manara Street in the direction of Abu Dhabi. This enhancement designed to reduce congestion at merging points, shorten waiting queues, and ultimately improve vehicle movement during peak hours," concluded Lootah. Follow Emirates 24|7 on Google News.
