Al Wasl Road diversions in Dubai to begin on Thursday

The Roads and Transport Authority said the diversion will impact traffic in both directions. However, it promised that the number of lanes will remain the same to ensure motorists were not inconvenienced.

Canal construction teams at work on Al Wasl Road next to Safa Park. The RTA is warning drivers that there will be more diversions put into place as building progresses. Jeffrey E Biteng / The National

DUBAI // Further diversions near Safa Park will be in place from Thursday as the Roads and Transport Authority reroutes traffic for about half a kilometre along Al Wasl Road.

The authority said the diversion will affect traffic in both directions. However, it promised that the number of lanes will remain the same to ensure motorists were not inconvenienced.

“Works are up and running in constructing the Dubai Water Canal and progressing according to the approved timeline,” said Maitha bin Udai, chief executive of RTA’s Traffic and Roads Agency.

“The traffic diversion will be on Al Wasl Road, which includes the traffic flow coming from Jumeirah 3 and Al Safa 1 and to Jumeirah 2 and Al Wasl and vice-versa. The temporary traffic diversion has been constructed with the same number of lanes, and fitted with the required traffic safety means, such as traffic signals, directional signage, cautionary lights and concrete barriers.”

The RTA official said work was under way to lay utility conduits underneath the canal.

“Construction works will start on the bridge on Al Wasl Road in the direction of Abu Dhabi, once the traffic movement is shifted directly to the traffic diversion.”

The Al Wasl Road diversions are the latest in a series of route changes. Last weekend, detours on Sheikh Zayed Road between Safa Park and Business Bay towards Dubai began.

Officials said the construction of the canal project will be divided into three phases. The first includes the construction of bridges across the canal that will carry Sheikh Zayed Road traffic across eight lanes in each direction.

Phase two includes the construction of bridges on Jumeirah Beach Road and Al Wasl Road, in addition to a ramp from Al Wasl Road to Hadiqa Street in the direction of Sheikh Zayed Road.

The third phase will see the drilling of the 3.2km-long canal, filling an island in the sea, building a marine wall around the island to enable preparing the sand beach and the building of three footbridges.