Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has greenlit the development of a 1.6-kilometer tunnel, promising smoother traffic flow for the bustling city. The tunnel, slated to accommodate an impressive 12,000 vehicles per hour in both directions, forms part of the ambitious Al Khaleej Street Tunnel Project.
Awarded to further bolster the city’s infrastructure, the project will span from the end of the ramp of the Infinity Bridge in Deira to the intersection of Al Khaleej and Cairo Streets. Its construction aims to facilitate connectivity for several key areas, including Abu Hail, Al Wuheida, Al Mamzar, Dubai Islands, Dubai Waterfront, Waterfront Market, and Al Hamriya Port.
Overseen by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai, the endeavor is part of the broader Al Shindagha Corridor Improvement Project. Mattar Al Tayer, Director General and Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of RTA, highlighted the significance of the Al Khaleej Street Tunnel within this expansive project.
Among its scope, the tunnel will ensure a free traffic flow from the Infinity Bridge towards Deira and back, as well as transforming the crossing of Cairo and Al Wuheida Streets into a signalized intersection. Moreover, it will enhance Cairo Street and connect the bridge ramp from Dubai Islands to the new tunnel on Al Khaleej Street northward.
The Al Shindagha Corridor Improvement Project, extending 13 kilometers along key streets including Sheikh Rashid Road and Al Khaleej Street, is set to elevate connectivity for numerous residential and developmental communities. Anticipated to slash travel times from 104 minutes to just 16 minutes by 2030, the project is a testament to Dubai’s commitment to sustainable urban development.
Currently underway, RTA is also working on a 4.8-kilometer improvement project on Sheikh Rashid Street, introducing three bridges and enhancing surface junctions along Jumeirah Street, Al Mina Street, and Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah Street.