Dh7 billion to be spent on Dubai transport projects this year

An estimated Dh3.62 billion will be set aside for 99 road, marine transport and public transport projects, 49 of which are under way.

Artist impression of the Etihad Bridge project. The Roads and Transport Authority is expected to award a contract for the projecct by the endof the year. Wam

DUBAI // More than Dh7 billion is to be spent on road, marine and public transport projects in Dubai this year, the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has announced.

Dh3.62bn will be set aside for 99 projects, 49 of which are under way.

Thirty-six per cent of the budget will be allocated to the traffic and roads agency, 33 per cent will go to the Rail Agency, and 13 per cent to the Public Transport Agency, said Mattar Al Tayer, the RTA’s chairman and executive director.

Seventeen per cent will be shared among the Licensing Agency, Administrative Support Services Sector and Technical Support Services Sector, and one per cent to other agencies, Mr Al Tayer said.

Among the RTA projects to be completed this year is the Dubai Tram, which has an 11-kilometre track along Al Sufouh Street. The initial phase of the project is expected to open in November.

By the end of this year the RTA will award a contract to build Etihad Bridge near the Dubai Courts at the Bur Dubai side, and across to a point near Deira City Centre.

“The RTA will complete the construction of internal road projects at residential areas in accordance with the five-year plan where a budget of Dh234 million is allocated for constructing internal roads in a number of residential communities in Dubai Emirate,” Mr Al Tayer said.

The five-year plan runs until 2016.

The RTA will build the Dh398m parallel roads project covering Sheikh Zayed Road and Al Khail Road.

The portfolio of projects also includes the Jumeirah Corniche at a cost of Dh70m, a widening of Al Qudra Road at Dh49m, and building the Union Gallery and rehabilitation of the Union House at Dh201m.