A new $571 million 62km highway between Abu Dhabi and Dubai has been inaugurated, it was announced on Tuesday.
Named the Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Road, the highway is one of the biggest infrastructure projects implemented under Abu Dhabi 2030 Urban Structure Framework Plan, news agency WAM reported.
Falah Al Ahbabi, Urban Planning Council director-general said: “The road represents a model for all future roads in Abu Dhabi… As a strategic artery, it can absorb additional traffic, especially during peak hours.
“Providing an alternative to the current Abu Dhabi and Dubai main road, the new highway will alleviate traffic congestion and bring down the number of accidents. The new road also provides access to Abu Dhabi city and its international airport, as well as to Yas and Saadiyat islands,” he added.
The road begins at the end of Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road in Seih Shuaib, on the Dubai-Abu Dhabi border. It then passes through the Forestry Green Belt, Al Maha Forest, Khalifa Port Industrial Zone,and Bida Khalifa, intersecting with Al Ajban Road and bypassing Al Shahama, Zayed Military Camp and Al Falah area, all the way to the Sweihan Road interchange.
It runs parallel and provides additional capacity to the existing Abu Dhabi-Dubai highway, WAM said.
The road will also foster the development of new residential areas, such as South Al Shamkha, North Al Wathba, Al Falah and the aid further development of existing areas, such as Al Shamkha, Al Shawamekh and Bani Yas, it added.
