Officials hope road work will improve safety

DUBAI // Two major roads in the northern Emirates are to be improved to reduce the number of accidents, the Dubai Department of Public Works has announced. The Dibba-Masafi road, known locally as "death row", is to be rerouted at its steepest point and a new road built from Masafi to the al Ghona Bridge. The department has also approved a new entrance to the Fujairah road. "Traffic congestion is important but safety is the main issue," said a department spokesman.

A decision regarding the Ras al Khaimah ring road has been postponed until further studies are conducted. The ring road, originally scheduled for 2011, would allow heavy industrial traffic to bypass the city. Its construction is considered essential to curb growing congestion. The department has proposed that part of the road would run parallel to Emirates Road that intersects at the al Rams traffic signal."We requested it more than three years ago and we are still waiting," said Michel Sakkal, director general of RAK Public Works. "We know that they assigned a consultant to do the design but we don't know when it will be done."

Dubai Public Works reported that a feasibility study for the ring road began 45 days ago and it would reach a decision on its deadline yesterday. "It depends on the budget," said Ahmed Khalil, a senior engineer for the Dubai Ministry of Public Works. "We don't know when it will come." [e-mail]