The Abu Dhabi Executive Council has announced that it will build new highways in the UAE capital to connect what it termed "strategic locations" at a cost of more than US$2bn
Construction of the new Mafraq-Ghweifat main road has been scheduled to start soon, the Abu Dhabi Department of Transport said.
The department added that preparations were underway ahead of contruction on a new 62km-long Abu Dhabi-Dubai (E311) road, which will cost US$572mn. The project, parallel to the existing Abu Dhabi-Dubai (E11) main road, will extend from Mohammad Bin Zayed Road in Saih Shuaib, through Al Maha Forest and Khalifa Industrial Zone Abu Dhabi (KIZAD), and will join up with the Sweihan Road (E20).
The project has been scheduled for completion by 2017 and will be aimed at easing traffic congestion on the E11, after recent studies showed that traffic would rise from 700 vehicles per hour at peak time to more than 12,000 vehicles in 2030 as a result of population growth.
The will become the latest link between the country?s two most populated emirates and will create new entrances to the city of Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi International Airport, Yas and Saadiyat Islands.
According to the department, the new Abu Dhabi-Dubai main road will connect the Khalifa Port area and KIZAD to existing and future main roads, serving the industrial area in Musaffah and new residential areas.
The new main road will be built with a rainwater drainage system and will be lit at night.
The 327km-long Mafraq-Ghweifat main road, also expected to be finished by 2017, extends from Mafraq to the international border linking the UAE with Saudi Arabia in Ghweifat. It also passes through the industrial centre in Ruwais, in addition to tourist and commercial locations in Abu Dhabi.
The road will also include side parking areas in each direction for light vehicles and trucks as well as areas for ambulance, police vehicles and petrol stations.
