DUBAI // A canal that weaves through the centre of Dubai, cycle tracks looping through the desert and a new road and Metro network leading to the Expo 2020 site are high among the emirate’s priorities.
The Road and Transport Authority (RTA) celebrates its 10th anniversary today and construction for the canal to link the Business Bay district with the Arabian Gulf is on schedule.
The three-kilometre waterway will be completed in 2017.
Work began on the project in 2013 with bridges built across the canal at Sheikh Zayed Road, Jumeirah Road and Al Wasl Road.
Its route is likely to become the city’s next tourist hotspot, with walking and cycling paths being constructed alongside a mix of luxury residences, gourmet restaurants, hotels and retail outlets.
Cycling paths stretching more than 178 kilometres, of which 138km are on a track from Seih Assalam to Nad Al Sheba, are being built in response to a call from Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to encourage the public to get on their bikes, the RTA said.
Other major projects include Route 2020 that extends the Metro’s Red Line from Nakheel Harbour and Tower station to the Expo site.
A network of motorways is also planned for the Dubai South Expo site, as well as upgrades to arterial and community roads.
At the RTA’s inception, Sheikh Mohammed endorsed the authority’s Dh75 billion plan, Mattar Al Tayer, the RTA director general, said.
“Many visits to the RTA were made by Sheikh Mohammed, Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed and Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed, who were keen to launch strategic projects like the Dubai Metro, Dubai Tram, marine transit and road projects.”
Launched in September 2009, the flagship Metro project was the world’s longest driverless rail system. In addition, the Dubai Tram has 11 stations, stretching from Dubai Marina to Al Sufouh, with interchanges at several Metro stations.
A comprehensive roads network aimed at connecting remote areas has resulted in an increase in road coverage from 8,715km in 2006 to 13,335km.
Pedestrian walkways and road safety programmes have also cut the pedestrian traffic fatality rate from 8.4 per 100,000 people in 2006 to less than one per 100,000 last year.
The RTA’s aim is to increase ridership of public transport to 30 per cent by 2030 from 14 per cent last year.
rtalwar@thenational.ae
