According to commuters and traffic experts, a new motorway linking between Dubai and Abu Dhabi cannot be built soon enough.
Work on the extension of Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road (E311) from Dubai all the way to Al Sweihan Road (E20) in the capital should be done by 2017.
The cost of the 62 kilometer road is Dh2.1 billion and will be built in two phases and in 30 months work.
It is thought the motorway could swap places with the circuitous truck road that goes from the end of the E311 to Abu Dhabi, as well as provide an alternative route for commuters travelling between the two cities.
It is worthy to mention that, currently speaking, there is only the E11 which is considered to only way to be taken by commuters. Telling that this project would spread traffic between the two routes and improve congestion on the E11.
In addition, it would provide a better alternative for lorries that have to use an only road between the two emirates that is sometimes not as time efficient as it could be.
The road is being developed by Abu Dhabi General Services, or “Musanada”, that on Saturday awarded the contracts to Ghantoot Transport, Tristar Engineering, and Abu Dhabi Salini Costruttori.
It will extend from the end of the E311, through Khalifa Industrial Zone Abu Dhabi.
The construction of the new road is based on projections of population growth over the next two decades. The E11 is used by 700 vehicles an hour at peak time, but that is due to grow to 12,000 by 2030.
Any increase in traffic growth needed to factor in the impact from Etihad Rail, which will link Dubai and Abu Dhabi and would likely provide an alternative means of commuting.
The announcement has been welcomed by commuters. One of them who lives in Dubai Marina and commutes to Abu Dhabi for a job in the oil and gas industry, said it would help to improve traffic and save some time on the roads, in a way that would facilitate the ambulance way if there would be any accident among the heavy traffic.
Another commuter from the Netherlands, who lives in the Springs and commutes to a job at a shipping firm in the capital, said it was a welcome addition.
“The traffic has got worse over the last year or so,” he said. “Now lots of people are living in Dubai and commuting to Abu Dhabi, and that number will grow.
“It should really have been started a few years ago – 2017 seems like a long time away. They might need it earlier. Maybe they just didn’t believe it would grow as fast as it has.”
