Abu Dhabi: A new road including bridges will be built at a cost of Dh1.131 billion to connect Umm Lafina Island and Reem Island to Shaikh Zayed Street (earlier known as Salam Street) in Abu Dhabi.
The Department of Transport (DoT) in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday announced the construction of the 10.5km new road corridor which will have five bridges connecting Umm Lafina and Reem Islands. The project will be completed in the second quarter of 2020.
The project was launched at a foundation stone-laying ceremony at Umm Lafina, an upcoming island adjacent to Al Reem Island in the capital.
The project will enhance traffic movement on three islands — Abu Dhabi, Reem and Umm Lafina. It will also include pedestrian and cycling lanes along with other facilities like bike renting stations. Speaking to Gulf News, Faisal Al Suwaidi, general manager of the Roads Department at the DoT, said: “We are expecting to finish the project in the next 30 months — hopefully in the second quarter of 2020. The 10.5km road is an extension of Shaikh Zayed Street and it’s under Abu Dhabi Plan 2030.”
It will link Al Reem Island to Shaikh Zayed Road and would help enhance the traffic movement on the islands, he said.
The Umm Lafina Island project includes construction of a road and a bridge linking Shaikh Zayed Road with Al Reem and Umm Lafina Islands. Umm Lafina Island will be developed under Abu Dhabi Plan 2030, Al Suwaidi said.
Khalifa Mohammad Al Mazroui, undersecretary of DoT, along with Engineer Ahmad Mohammad Shareef Al Khoury, chairman of Abu Dhabi General Services Company (Musanada), laid the foundation stone for the project.
The new road will link Al Reem and Umm Lafina Islands to Shaikh Zayed Street at the intersection on Dhafeer Street. It will include five bridges with a total length of 4km.
The project will be executed under two contracts. The first will include the construction of a road with three lanes in each direction for 6.5km starting from Al Reem Island and passing through Umm Lafina Island (North and South). In addition, the project will include building three bridges above water canals.
The second project will include building a 4km road to connect the southern side of Umm Lafina Island with Shaikh Zayed Street. Two bridges will be built across the water channels and they will pass through the main intersection to ease traffic flow in all directions on Shaikh Zayed Road.
Both contracts will be completed within 30 months.
Arch-shaped concrete tiles will be used to preserve the environment, ensure the flow of water, reduce the adverse effects on mangroves and enhance water traffic in the area.
However, the official asserted that the project will enhance the connectivity between Abu Dhabi, Al Reem and Umm Lafina islands. Moreover, it will support the easy flow of traffic and increase the level of safety for road users and will fulfil the development demands in the emirate.
