Abu Dhabi completes two phases of US$1.4bn highway project

The highway project is considered to be one of the most important strategic projects forming part of the Abu Dhabi Plan. (Image source: Musanada)

Abu Dhabi General Services (Musanada) announced that it has completed two phases of the total six packages of Mafraq-Ghuwaifat Highway project, which will link the western region cities to the international borders with Saudi Arabia

Musanada said that the total cost of the project is estimated to be US$1.4bn.

Commenting on the project development, Saleh Al Sheibah Al Mazrouei, acting roads and infrastructure executive director of Musanada, said, ?Two 64km packages have been completed in this six-package project, stretching from Al Ghuwaifat border post to Barakah city, with Package 1A comprising 20km and Package1B comprising 44km.?

?The road has been widened from two to three lanes in each direction from Barakah city until (Kilo10) and from two to four lanes after Al Silaa (Kilo10) to the Al Ghuwaifat border post, enhancing the road capacity particularly at the border post, facilitating an increase in trade volumes, land transport and local industry,? explained Al Mazrouei.

Musanada is in charge of implementing the project in collaboration with the Department of Municipal Affairs and Transport (DMAT). The project involves construction of a temporary parking in the vicinity of the border post, lay-byes for road users, a three-metre internal shoulder as well as a three-metre external shoulder for emergencies.

In addition, the project also includes the construction of two underpasses for camels. The first will be located close to Al Silaa and Ghuwaifat, and the second will be located within the Al Wahida area.

The dedicated camel underpasses are aimed at serving the camel owners in the surrounding areas by avoiding any unwanted impact on traffic caused from camel crossing the road.

Commenting on the traffic and transportation, Musanada said that the project also includes upgradation in the street lighting systems and electricity grid using LED light bulbs, aiming to enhance traffic safety situations.

The company further added that it will undertake cross-road underground ducts along with the required levelling works to provide support to side slopes and storm-water drainage from internal area.

Faisal Al Suwaidi, director general of main roads division at DMAT, said, "The project aims to provide an effective transport system serving the community and economy of the emirate, enhance traffic safety levels on this critical road, and create an integrated land transport network and services, leading to the realisation of the emirate?s vision.?