23-02-2025
Dubai: New bridges, road expansion in Al Qudra to slash travel time to under 3 minutes
An ambitious plan aimed at enhancing traffic flow and support Dubai's rapid urban expansion has been unveiled by the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA). The Al Qudra Street Development Project aims to significantly improve mobility for both residents and visitors while accommodating the city's growing population.
The development, which costs Dh798 million, will increase road capacity and cut travel times from 9.4 minutes to just 2.8 minutes along Al Qudra Street. This project will also benefit approximately 400,000 residents and visitors in key residential and commercial areas.
Stretching from the intersection with Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road, passing through Sheikh Zayed bin Hamdan Al Nahyan Street and reaching Emirates Road, the project will include major infrastructure enhancements. These include multiple interchange upgrades, 2,700 metres of new bridges, and an 11.6-km road expansion.
Strategic importance
Mattar Al Tayer, Director-General, chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), highlighted the project's strategic importance. "It serves several key development areas, including Arabian Ranches 1 and 2, Dubai Motor City, Dubai Studio City, Akoya, Mudon, DAMAC Hills, and Sustainable City."
Additionally, the project aims to enhance road safety standards while fostering economic growth in surrounding areas. "It will also facilitate seamless traffic movement on Al Qudra Street towards Emirates Road, providing direct connectivity to Al Qudra City and vice versa," he said.
Intersection upgrades
One of the project's key components is the enhancement of the intersection between Al Qudra Street and the connecting road between Arabian Ranches and Dubai Studio City. A new 600-metre bridge with four lanes in each direction will be constructed, boosting road capacity from 6,600 to 19,200 vehicles per hour. This upgrade will also reduce waiting times at the intersection from 113 seconds to 52 seconds, significantly improving efficiency.
'The project also includes upgrading the intersection of Al Qudra Street with Sheikh Zayed bin Hamdan Al Nahyan Street by constructing a 700-metre bridge with seven lanes in both directions. The upgrade includes auxiliary lanes for side ramps with two lanes each, ensuring smooth transitions in all directions without disrupting the mainstream traffic flow," Al Tayer stated, further elaborating on the project scope.
A 500-metre bridge to facilitate traffic flow from Al Qudra Street to Sheikh Zayed bin Hamdan Al Nahyan Street towards Jebel Ali will also be constructed. Through the project, Downtown Dubai and airport access will be made easy. A 900-metre bridge will also be built to serve traffic heading from Al Qudra Street to Sheikh Zayed bin Hamdan Al Nahyan Street in the direction of Downtown Dubai and Dubai International Airport.
"The project also includes the construction of service roads on both sides of Sheikh Zayed bin Hamdan Al Nahyan Street, spanning three kilometres, to enhance connectivity with surrounding development projects. Upgrading the intersection will increase the street's capacity from 7,800 vehicles per hour to 19,400 vehicles per hour, reducing the waiting time at the second intersection from 393 seconds to 60 seconds," added Al Tayer.
Development areas
Beyond the major intersection upgrades, the project extends Al Qudra Street to Emirates Road, covering key residential hubs such as Town Square, Mira, and DAMAC Hills 2. "This includes expanding lanes in both directions along 3.4 kilometres of Al Qudra Street, from the Emirates Road intersection to the existing roundabout in the developers' area, thereby enhancing connectivity and traffic flow in these growing communities," he stated.
Looking ahead, a subsequent phase will introduce a 4.8-km road linking the southern part of the development zone with Emirates Road. "The project also involves expanding the number of lanes on both sides of the Emirates Road over a 4.8-kilometre stretch, thereby enhancing connectivity with the surrounding development projects," he concluded.
