Roads leading to Expo 2020 Dubai open to motorists

The latest phase is part of a Dh3bn upgrade designed to ensure millions of visitors can easily visit site

The latest phase of a huge roads building programme for Expo 2020 has been completed. Courtesy RTA

New roads around the site of Expo 2020 in Dubai will open to traffic on Sunday, after the latest phase of a Dh3 billion transport infrastructure project was completed.

Motorists will be able to drive on a new 1.4km flyover, and 8km of new roads, which will help millions of visitors navigate the site hassle-free once huge event begins next October. An improved intersection of Emirates and Expo Roads has also been finished.

Meanwhile, lane numbers have been increased and a 5km stretch of Emirates Road has been upgraded.

Due to the huge scope of the roads building project, it has been divided into six phases.

Three of the six phases have now been completed, with work on other parts of Expo Road and Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Road still being carried out.

“The project works included transforming the intersection of Emirates Road and Expo Road into a flyover ensuring free traffic in all directions,” Mattar Al Tayer, Director-General at Dubai Roads and Transport Authority, said.

“Accordingly, the road capacity increased from 10,000 to 23,700 vehicles per hour. It will also improve the traffic flow to Expo, Dubai South and Al Maktoum International Airport, besides slashing the transit time.”

It is expected that Expo 2020 will receive 25 million visits – 145,000 per day – over six months. The site is designed to accommodate 300,000 people at any one time.

It is hoped that three main entrances to the site, as well as links to the extended Dubai metro, will help ease congestion. Around 30,000 parking spaces will be on site.