Sharjah has declared the commencement of the initial phase of a new initiative to create and build new road connections between the emirate and Dubai. This stage involves the partial opening of Al Taawun Interchange and the activation of multiple bridges and junctions, allowing one-way traffic from Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Road toward Expo Centre Sharjah to aid visitor access to the Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF), stated Wam.
The second phase will encompass the complete opening of the upper-level junction at Al Taawun Roundabout and Al Taawun Tunnel, the finishing of bridges and junctions along the three industrial roads, and the enhancement of Al Khulafa Al Rashideen Interchange and the bridge linking it to Jamal Abdul Nasser Street, resulting in the project's total operation.
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His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, inaugurated the first phase of the Dubai-Sharjah road project as part of the initiative to enhance traffic flow on the routes linking the two emirates.
Dr. Salah bin Butti Al Muhairi, Chairman of the Initiatives Implementation Authority, “Mubadara,” praised the collaborative efforts and supportive roles of the organizations engaged in hastening the completion of the initial phase. He stated that the project enhances road network efficiency, promotes smoother travel, and decreases congestion by boosting capacity on important routes.
Yousef Khamis Al Othmani, Chairman of the Sharjah Roads and Transport Authority (SRTA), noted that this organizational integration demonstrates a fruitful collaboration that combines skills and resources to meet developmental goals and benefit the emirate and its citizens. The initiative consists of five segments designed to alleviate congestion and enhance traffic movement on major roads in Sharjah.
The initial section features a 560-meter-long tunnel with three lanes in both directions on Al Taawun Street, along with a roundabout and a traffic signal-controlled intersection.
It is intended to accommodate approximately 4,200 vehicles each hour during peak times and enhance access to Expo Centre Sharjah and its vicinity.
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The second project consists of enhancing the Al Khulafa Al Rashideen Interchange on Al Ittihad Road by adding two underpasses and a 315-meter-long bridge that connects it to Jamal Abdul Nasser Street. The improvements will increase capacity to approximately 2,600 vehicles each hour and enhance links to Al Khan Street and the Ring Road. The third section will enhance two junctions that connect First and Second Industrial Streets, featuring two bridges approximately 866m long, a signalized intersection, and unrestricted turning lanes.
The enhancements will establish direct connections between Damascus Street in Dubai and Wasit Street in Sharjah, accommodating around 2,800 vehicles per hour during peak times. The fourth aspect consists of a 2.7-km roadway on Third Industrial Street, which has two bridges and an underpass linking the Ring Road, Al Khan Street, and Al Khulafa Al Rashideen Interchange. It aims to increase capacity for approximately 5,200 vehicles each hour and enhance access to the city center of Sharjah and its industrial zones.
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The fifth section will increase the turning path from Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road to the Ring Road to three lanes and will broaden the Ring Road, incorporating two lanes towards Sharjah city center and one towards Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road, according to the Wam report. Entrances and exits will be restructured, and merging and diverging lanes will be enhanced, boosting road capacity and facilitating smoother traffic movement between the new connections and current roads, it noted.