In line with the directives from the leadership to expedite the progress of infrastructure projects within the road network, the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has announced the development of Al Safa Street. This initiative spans 1,500 meters from its intersection with Sheikh Zayed Road to Al Wasl Road. It includes the construction of two bridges and two tunnels with a total length of 3,120 meters, alongside the widening of surface roads and enhancements to intersections and traffic signals. The project aims to reduce travel time on Al Safa Street from 12 minutes to just 3 minutes and increase its capacity from 6,000 vehicles per hour in both directions to 12,000 vehicles.
The Director General and Chairman of the RTA, Mattar Al Tayer, stated, “The development of Al Safa Street is part of our comprehensive plan to enhance the road network in the region, which also includes improvements to Um Suqeim and Al Wasl Streets. This project serves a vibrant area hosting numerous cultural and sporting events, along with vital facilities such as City Walk, Coca-Cola Arena, educational institutions, residential and commercial spaces, hotels, and upscale restaurants. It also benefits the downtown area and development projects adjacent to the Financial Center Road, catering to a population exceeding one million residents. The project emphasizes creative and aesthetic elements, aiming to develop dedicated pathways for pedestrians and cyclists while enhancing urban spaces for community engagement and providing a vibrant urban environment with landscaping features.”
Bridges and Tunnels
Al Tayer elaborated on the project details, noting that the development of Al Safa Street encompasses the area from its intersection with Sheikh Zayed Road to Al Wasl. It features two key bridges: the first is designed for traffic coming from Al Wasl Road toward Sheikh Zayed Road and the Financial Center, consisting of four lanes and measuring 1,005 meters in length, with a capacity of approximately 6,400 vehicles per hour. The second bridge accommodates traffic from Al Satwa towards Sheikh Zayed Road and the Financial Center, featuring two lanes and measuring 360 meters, with a capacity of 2,800 vehicles per hour. Additionally, the project includes two tunnels: the first for vehicles coming from Sheikh Zayed Road and the Financial Center toward Al Wasl Road, comprising two lanes and measuring 1,005 meters, with a capacity of 3,200 vehicles hourly. The second tunnel is located at the intersection of Al Wasl and Al Safa Streets, measuring 750 meters with two lanes in each direction, accommodating about 6,400 vehicles per hour in both directions. The project also involves widening the street from three lanes to four in each direction, with two lanes operating freely and two controlled by traffic signals, as well as enhancing pedestrian and bicycle paths, urban landscaping, improving lighting systems, signage, stormwater drainage, and existing utility relocations. Al Tayer emphasized that this project, upon completion, will significantly enhance traffic flow from the upper lanes of the Financial Center Street and Sheikh Zayed Road to Al Safa Street, and vice versa, improving connectivity among key road arteries in the area while also increasing road safety.”
Comprehensive Plan
Al Tayer further explained that the development of Al Safa Street is a continuation of the RTA’s extensive plan to upgrade the road network in the region. This rollout includes the enhancement of Al Wasl Street from its intersection with Um Suqeim Road to its junction with Second of December Road, spanning 15 kilometers, and improvements to Um Suqeim Street from its intersection with Jumeirah Road to Al Khail Road, covering 6 kilometers.
The Al Wasl project involves upgrading six intersections, including one major improvement and the construction of five tunnels with a combined length of 3,850 meters. The road will be widened from two lanes in each direction to three lanes, thereby reducing travel time on Al Wasl Street by 50% and increasing its capacity from 8,000 vehicles hourly in both directions to 12,000 vehicles.
The Um Suqeim project consists of upgrading six intersections connecting to Jumeirah, Al Wasl, Sheikh Zayed, Al Khail, and Al Asail Roads, including the construction of four bridges and three tunnels totaling 4,100 meters. This will enhance connectivity between four strategic highways in Dubai: Sheikh Zayed Road, Al Khail Road, Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road, and Emirates Road, increasing the street’s capacity to 16,000 vehicles per hour in both directions, improving traffic efficiency, and reducing travel time from 20 minutes to just 6 minutes between Jumeirah and Al Khail Roads.