Rashid Hospital Tunnels Project 80 per cent complete, RTA says

Road capacity set to increase to 6,000 vehicles per hour

 

Dubai: Traffic flow near the Rashid Hospital will be smoother in five months’ time with the expected June 20 opening of the Rashid Hospital Tunnels Project, which is now 80 per cent complete, a senior official from Roads & Transport Authority (RTA) said.

“The construction of Rashid Hospital Tunnels Project is part of a master plan aimed to ease the traffic congestion in the vicinity of Rashid Hospital and step up the traffic flow in the area,” Mattar Al Tayer, Chairman of the Board and Executive Director of the RTA, said. “Upon the project completion, the capacity of roads within the scope of the project is set to rise to as much as 6000 vehicles per hour.”

Al Tayer said Dh722-million roads and tunnel project is expected to be fully completed and opened for traffic by June 20, 2013. The project comprises the construction of roads and two tunnels, each comprising two lanes. The tunnels will serve inbound traffic from Tariq Bin Ziyad & Umm Harir Streets and heading towards the intersection of Al Riyadh Street with the extension of the Floating Bridge.

The first tunnel will pass through Tariq Bin Ziyad Street underneath Al Maktoum Bridge while the second tunnel will pass through Oud Metha Park. Both tunnels will merge to form a four-lane street going towards Al Riyadh Street through Rashid Hospital.

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RTA also converted the junction of Al Riyadh Street with the Floating Bridge Extension into a four-lane passageway. Part of the project included the widening of Tariq bin Ziyad Street, improving Oud Metha & Umm Harir Streets, and constructing a road to handle the traffic inbound from the Floating Bridge and heading towards Tariq bin Ziyad Street.

“The project contractor has completed all infrastructure works related to DEWA, sewage services and Etisalat as well as the construction works in vehicular & pedestrian tunnels, and the electromechanical works in the tunnels,” Al Tayer said.

To further ease traffic flow in the Bur Dubai area, RTA has undertaken several projects including the Floating Bridge to reduce tailbacks and enhance road capacity with continued urbanisation and traffic growth rates. The project included improving the efficiency of junctions near Al Riyadh Street and adding another lane to Khalid Bin Al Waleed Street and Oud Metha Road.

RTA widened the previously nine-lane Al Maktoum Bridge to 11 lanes. It also added one more lane to the streets leading to the bridge to handle inbound traffic from Umm Harir Street.

Source: Gulf News

RTA to ensure smooth traffic flow during DSF fireworks display

Special team to ensure smooth flow of traffic on Baniyas road and Al Seef road, and in areas where the fireworks display will take place

Dubai: The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) will take measures to ensure there is no traffic congestion during the Dubai Shopping Festival celebrations, Hussain Mohammad Al Banna, Director of Traffic Department at the RTA, told Gulf News.

 

A special team has been formed to ensure smooth flow of traffic on Baniyas road and Al Seef road, and in areas where the fireworks display will take place.

 

The Business Bay crossing, Garhoud bridge and Floating bridge will also be monitored for traffic blocks.

 

Some motorists tend to slow down or park their cars on the road, which could result in traffic obstruction, he said calling on drivers to put their safety first and focus completely on the road while driving.

The Dubai Police security and traffic patrols will be extensively present around festivities area to ensure smooth flow of traffic and enforce traffic regulations, similarly to steps taken during National Day and New Year celebrations.

Source: Gulf News

Free rides on public transport on November 1

Dubai: The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) will offer free rides on public transport for a day to mark Public Transport Day on November 1 for the second consecutive year.

Dedicated bus and taxi lanes will also be opened on Naif and Al Ittihad roads on this day. Al Mamzar exit on the road from Sharjah to Dubai dedicated to buses and taxis will also be opened on that day.

Like last year, Metro, bus and water bus rides will be offered free of cost on the day to Nol card-holders. In addition, a complimentary credit of Dh100 will be added to 50 customers who use public transport most frequently. The day is held to commemorate the establishing of RTA six years ago, and aims to popularise the use of public transport in Dubai.

Mattar Al Tayer, Chairman of the Board and Executive Director of the RTA, announced the second edition of the Public Transport Day yesterday, under the theme 'Together We Move'.

Environment

On November 1 last year, RTA's initiative received massive public support with about 606,390 people using public transport as compared to the daily average (in 2010) of 437,000.

Over 205,965 people took the Metro compared to a daily average of 140,000, and 394,325 passengers used public buses as compared to the average of 296,000, and 6,100 passengers used the water bus against 700 passengers on normal days.

By observing Public Transport Day, RTA hopes to demonstrate the benefits of choosing public transport such as psychological and physical comfort during the journey, savings on fuel costs and maintenance of vehicles, in addition to significant reduction of traffic fatalities and carbon emissions from vehicle exhausts, Al Tayer said in a statement yesterday.

The initiative aims to raise the profile of Dubai emirate in supporting programmes that contribute to the improvement of the environment and sustainable development, he said.

"The Public Transport Day initiative comprises a host of programmes... Besides the free rides on the Metro, public buses and the water bus to Nol card-holders, RTA will also kick-start Phase II of the dedicated bus and taxi lane programme which covers part of Naif Road extending 1km from Al Musalla Road up to Al Khaleej Road, and Al Ittihad Road in a sector extending 1km in the direction from Sharjah to Dubai starting from the entry point of Dubai emirate up to Al Nahda Interchange."

On Naif Road the dedicated lane was added by removing the parking slots on the right-hand side of the road while leaving the left-hand side parking unchanged.

Dubai Metro Green Line Gets Green Light

Dubai: Preparations for the launch of the long-awaited Green Line of the Dubai Metro are complete with all stations manned and the trains ready to go.

The new route will be officially opened to passengers on Friday, exactly two years after the launch of the original Red Line on September 9, 2009.

The Dubai Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has deployed 456 shuttle buses on 39 routes to link the stations with the surrounding neighbourhood.

The 23 kilometre-long Green Line is the second of the Dubai Metro project — the longest driverless automatic train system with a total length of 75 kilometres. It includes the 52 kilometre-long Red Line linking Al Rashidiya to the Jebel Ali Free Zone.

Mattar Al Tayer, Chairman of the Board and Executive Director of the RTA, was responsible for inspecting the Green Line.

Al Tayer focused on parking provision for buses and taxis at each station as well as the state of roads leading to stations and signs. He was joined by Adnan Al Hamadi, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Rail Agency of the RTA and other senior officials.

The Dubai Metro operator, Serco, has completed the training of front-end and customer service staff.

According to the RTA, the consortium undertaking the project has completed comprehensive technical testing of the finishing works on floors, escalators and lifts, interior lighting, air-conditioning, footbridges, metro carriages and arrangements for those with special needs including tactile floor to guide visually impaired individuals to their intended destinations as well as the sound and optical announcement systems.

Briefing

During his visit, Al Tayer attended a briefing on the technical trial of the Green Line which included testing the communication systems, automated operational system, power supply, air-conditioning, on-board electronic systems, signalling and lighting systems.

Al Tayer inspected all the stations. He set off his journey from Etisalat at Al Ghusais, near Emirates Road, which is the starting point of the Green Line.

Here he inspected the entry points of the new roads leading to the multi-level car park terminal which has recently been constructed, and also viewed the car park designated for public buses and taxis feeding the station.

This is the closest station for passengers coming from Sharjah and other neigbouring emirates and has parking facilities for about 3,000 vehicles.

He also inspected pedestrian footbridges and subways linking the metro stations which are fitted with air-conditioning systems.

Al Tayer stressed that all the Metro employees have to focus on attaining the satisfaction of the metro riders and implementing the rules and regulations to maintain the security and safety of passengers and properties.

The Public Transport Agency has completed the training of bus drivers on the new routes feeding the metro stations.

Some 14 trains will be operated on the Green Line during peak times and 10 trains during off-peak hours. The service frequency will range from six to eight minutes.

Going green: 6 underground stations

The 23-kilometre-long Green Line runs from Al Qusais near Emirates Road to Al Jaddaf near Business Bay Crossing, passing through the congested Central Business District of Deira and Bur Dubai.

It will link with the Red Line at Khalid Bin Al Waleed and Union Stations, allowing passengers to change trains.

The Green Line has 18 stations in addition to the two interchange stations where it links with the Red Line. This includes 12 elevated and six underground stations.

Some 7.9 kilometres of the total length of the 23 kilometres is underground.

Source: Gulf News