Dubai set to open $517m road project in January

Dubai's transport authority said on Saturday that one of its biggest road construction projects will be officially completed next month.

The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) announced that all intersections of Al Khail Road will be opened on January 4.

The opening of the AED1.9bn ($517m) project will coincide with the seventh anniversary of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum taking office as ruler of Dubai.

Mattar Al Tayer, chairman and executive director of the RTA, said he was delighted to announce the opening which acts as an expansion of the Business Bay Crossing.

The project seeks to establish an alternative traffic corridor supporting both the Sheikh Zayed and Emirates Roads which account for high traffic volumes.

The massive construction project has been carried out in four phases.

In May, Dubai said it plans to spend another AED1bn over five years to improve roads.

The initial phase of the plan, which runs through to 2016, covers five residential communities including Hatta and Al Qusais 3 in addition to Al Quoz 2, 3 and 4.

The RTA said it has awarded two contracts under the programme valued at AED38m to build roads in Al-Qusais 3 and Al-Quoz 4.