Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) launched Phase 6 of Roads Leading to Expo 2020 site on Sunday, 22nd December, including an improved intersection of Emirates and Expo Roads. The project will raise the road’s intake from 10,000 to 23,700 vehicles per hour. Built at an estimated cost of about AED 3 billion, it aims to ensure smooth traffic flow for Expo visitors and serve future projects in the area.

This sixth phase of the project includes the construction of a bridge extending 1.4 km and roads stretching about 8 km.

The number of lanes of Expo Road have also been increased from four to six lanes in each direction over a sector of three kilometres. A five-kilometres sector of Emirates Road has also been upgraded.

The roads were developed in response to the directives of HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai and support the flow of transport networks in Dubai Expo 2020.

HE Mattar Al Tayer, Director-General and Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of the RTA described the project as one of the biggest road projects currently undertaken by the organisation. He added that the project was divided into six phases due to its massive scope.

“Works included transforming the existing R/A at the intersection of Emirates Road and Expo Road into a flyover enabling free movement in all directions. Expo Road has been elevated to make a bridge of four lanes in each direction. Service roads, each of two lanes, have been constructed on both sides of the main road. Turns have been provided to ensure smooth flow of traffic from Emirates Road in the direction of Abu Dhabi and vice versa, and from Expo Road in the direction of Sheikh Zayed bin Hamdan Al Nahyan Road. The project wil ease the traffic movement from Expo Road northwards to the Dubai-bound Emirates Road, and from Expo Road Southwards to the Abu Dhabi-bound Emirates Road,” explained Al Tayer.

In an official statement, Dubai Media Office said that works also included transforming the previous R/A at the intersection of Emirates Road and Expo Road into a flyover ensuring free traffic in all directions.

“It will also improve the traffic flow to Expo, Dubai South and Al Maktoum International Airport, besides slashing the transit time as a result of removing the roundabout, and the traffic signal. It will also triple the vehicular capacity of the road and ensure smooth traffic flow on main roads,” it added.

Roads leading to Dubai Expo 2020 site was split into six stages. Phases 3 and 4 was inaugurated in August 2019 while work is currently underway in Phases 1, 2 and 5.

Phases 1 and 2 cover transforming the existing roundabout at the intersection of Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road and Expo Road into a flyover; ensuring free traffic movement in all directions. Works underway include constructing direct entry/exit points to Expo 2020 from Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road to ensure smooth traffic flow to and from the site of Expo. The total length of roads being constructed under both phases is about 43 km.

Phases 3 and 4 of roads leading to the Expo site. It included constructing two intersections at Sheikh Zayed bin Hamdan Al Nahyan Road with each of Expo Road and Al Yalayes Street. Two flyovers on Sheikh Zayed bin Hamdan Al Nahyan Street at the Dubai Investment Park have been upgraded. Sheikh Zayed bin Hamdan Al Nahyan Street has been widened from two to five lanes in each direction, and bridges constructed under both phases covered 17 km.

Phase 5 includes constructing bridges extending 2.6 km and roads spanning about 3 km. The number of lanes of Expo Road increased from three to six in each direction over a sector of three km together with service roads to improve the current traffic condition. Expo Road has been elevated at the intersection of Al Asayel Road over an 800-metre stretch, forming a bridge of six lanes in each direction. Two other bridges extending one kilometer have been built to link Expo Road with the service road to ensure smooth traffic flow from and to the site of Expo.

RTA has developed a plan addressing the needs of hosting Expo 2020 with the aim of ensuring smooth mobility for visitors of Expo. Works undertaken included upgrading roads and intersections, Route 2020 for extending Dubai Metro Red Line, and improving public transit networks, including buses and taxis.