Al Safa Street Improvement Project To Enhance Traffic Flow And Connectivity In Dubai

Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has unveiled the Al Safa Street Improvement Project. This initiative spans 1,500 metres from Al Safa Street's junction with Sheikh Zayed Road to its intersection with Al Wasl Street. The project aims to support Dubai's urban growth, cater to the rising population, and enhance life quality for residents and visitors.

The project will feature two bridges and two tunnels, totalling 3,120 metres in length. Surface roads will be widened, intersections upgraded, and traffic signals improved. These changes will cut travel time on Al Safa Street from 12 minutes to just 3 minutes. Additionally, the street's capacity will increase from 6,000 to 12,000 vehicles per hour in both directions.

Mattar Al Tayer, Director General of RTA, stated: "Al Safa Street Improvement Project is part of RTA’s master plan to enhance the road network in the area, which also includes the development of Umm Suqeim and Al Wasl Streets." The project targets a district known for tourism and cultural events, hosting landmarks like City Walk and Coca-Cola Arena.

Al Tayer highlighted that the first bridge will facilitate traffic from Al Wasl Street towards Sheikh Zayed Road and Financial Centre Street. It will have four lanes spanning 1,005 metres with a capacity of 6,400 vehicles per hour. The second bridge will serve traffic from Al Satwa Road towards Sheikh Zayed Road with two lanes extending 360 metres.

The project includes constructing two tunnels. One tunnel will accommodate traffic from Sheikh Zayed Road towards Al Wasl Street. It will be 1,005 metres long with two lanes supporting 3,200 vehicles per hour. The second tunnel at Al Wasl Street intersection extends 750 metres with two lanes each way.

Al Tayer explained that Al Safa Street will be expanded from three signalised lanes each way to four lanes—two free-flowing and two controlled by signals. This expansion includes pedestrian walkways, cycling tracks, vibrant urban spaces, landscaped areas, lighting upgrades, signage improvements, rainwater drainage enhancements, and utility service relocations.

Broader Development Plans

The project is part of a larger plan involving Umm Suqeim and Al Wasl Streets' development. The Al Wasl Street project covers six intersections' upgrades and five tunnels totalling 3,850 metres. It aims to halve travel time along the street while increasing capacity to 12,000 vehicles per hour in both directions.

The Umm Suqeim Street development involves upgrading six key intersections along its corridor. This includes constructing four bridges and three tunnels with a combined length of 4,100 metres. These improvements aim to enhance connectivity between major corridors like Sheikh Zayed Road and Emirates Road.

Upon completion of these projects, connectivity across key arterial corridors in Dubai will improve significantly. Traffic flow from Financial Centre Street's Upper Deck towards Al Safa Street will be smoother. Overall safety standards are expected to rise as well.

Al Tayer concluded: "The project will enhance connectivity between four strategic corridors in the Emirate—Sheikh Zayed Road, Al Khail Road, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road, and Emirates Road." This enhancement is expected to boost street capacity to handle up to 16,000 vehicles per hour in both directions.

With inputs from WAM