New RTA Project to Cut Travel Time by 75% in Dubai
Dubai is transforming its road network to ease traffic and shorten commute times. A new RTA project will upgrade a key intersection to support faster travel and better capacity across the city’s road system.
The RTA awarded a contract to redevelop the Sheikh Zayed bin Hamdan Al Nahyan Street, Al Awir Road, and Al Manama junction Street. This busy route connects several fast-growing residential areas and is a known traffic bottleneck during peak hours.
The project is part of Dubai’s wider plan to accommodate urban growth, reduce congestion, and improve road safety. It includes bridge construction, road widening, and new access points to boost traffic flow through the corridor.
Travel Time to Drop from 20 Minutes to 5
One of the most notable improvements is a sharp reduction in travel time. The project aims to cut the current 20-minute journey through the area down to just five minutes. This will directly benefit thousands of motorists who use the route daily.
The road’s capacity will also see a dramatic boost. Once complete, the corridor will handle up to 14,400 vehicles per hour in both directions. That’s a 176% increase from the existing 5,200 cars per hour, easing pressure during rush hours and improving travel reliability.
RTA plans to complete the project by the third quarter of 2028. It will construct the road in phases to minimize traffic impact.
New Bridges, Lane Expansions, and Free-Flow Design
This RTA’s project includes more than 2.3 kilometers of new bridges to help traffic move smoothly between major intersections. RTA will remove a key roundabout and replace it with a grade-separated interchange. This change allows vehicles to move in all directions without stopping at signals.
Sheikh Zayed bin Hamdan Al Nahyan Street will be widened from two to four lanes in each direction. New ramps for left and right turns will improve flow and reduce delays at key junctions. The intersection with Al Manama Street will also be upgraded, with improved surface roads and smarter signal timing.
A bridge will also be constructed at the intersection of Al Awir Road with Emirates Road. This will support better access for traffic heading toward Al Awir and Sharjah.
Safer Access to Local Communities
RTA will develop parallel service roads along Sheikh Zayed bin Hamdan Street and Al Awir Road to serve the surrounding neighborhoods. These roads will provide safer access to residential and commercial zones without interfering with through traffic.
The project follows earlier phases that brought improvements to key areas like Academic City, Dubai Silicon Oasis, and Global Village. The latest contract builds on those upgrades by targeting one of the network’s most critical and congested intersections.
Conclusion
This RTA project is a major investment in Dubai’s future mobility. With shorter travel times, higher traffic capacity, and better road design, the upgrade will benefit over 600,000 residents and visitors. By 2028, drivers can expect a faster, smoother experience across this key corridor.
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