Prime Highlights
- Traffic diversions and road closures start in Dubai and Sharjah for mega-infrastructure development.
- The Blue Line and Etihad Rail projects have been designed to remake connectivity and cut traffic congestion by 2029.
Key Facts
- Sharja’s exit from Mleiha Road was shut down from July 1-August 30 for Etihad Rail work.
- Dubai Metro Blue Line, 14 stations and 30 km long, opened by September 2029.
Key Background
The UAE is witnessing enormous road closures in agreement with its structure development, with round- the- timepiece work on the Etihad Rail and Dubai Metro Blue Line. The systems are at the center of the country’s vision for an intertwined and sustainable public transportation system.
In Sharjah, the intersection of Mleiha Road to the Sharjah Ring Road close to the University City Bridge has been closed since July 1 and will continue to be closed until August 30. The road is being closed to permit the construction of a temporary bridge to facilitate the expansion of the Etihad Rail. The corridor will become crucial for future freight and passenger transport corridors between the northern emirates and the rest of the country.
Detours are currently being conducted along Academic City and Mirdif in Dubai. Closure of roundabout at Mirdif is currently being implemented at 5th to 8th Streets, with detour being conducted so that construction can be performed conveniently within metro facilities. Closure of sections of 63 Street near academic buildings is being implemented within Academic City, with rerouting routes to be planned so as not to inconvenience as much as possible.
The Blue Line of Dubai Metro will be 30 kilometers in length with 14 cutting-edge stations, directly linking the key residential areas with Dubai International Airport. It will be completed on September 9, 2029, and shorten the travel time from suburbs to the airport to only 20 minutes.
Both the Etihad Rail and the Dubai Metro Blue Line share a common objective of reducing road congestion by as much as 20%, reducing environmental footprints, and enhancing inter-emirate accessibility. Such closures, regardless of being short-term in nature, are an important step by the UAE towards embracing appropriate urbanization and organized public transportation systems.
