Dubai has started work on a new road project as part of its 2040 urban master plan.
The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has awarded a AED2 billion ($545 million) contract for the Latifa bint Hamdan Corridor Development project.
The 12km corridor will connect existing and planned residential areas in Nad Al Sheba, Al Barari, Dubai Hills, Dubai District One, Mohammed Bin Rashid Gardens, Living Legends, Majan and Global Village, the UAE state-run Wam news agency reported.
The project includes seven bridges and eight tunnels, with capacity for 16,000 vehicles an hour in both directions and more than 130,000 trips a day.
It is expected to serve about 650,000 residents and visitors, boosting capacity on east-west routes across the emirate by 12 percent. It will also reduce travel time between Umm Al Sheif Street and Emirates Road from 33 minutes to 15 minutes.
The project is due to be completed by the end of 2028.
In April, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, vice president and prime minister of the UAE and ruler of Dubai, said the emirate would not stop work on its projects and would accelerate the pace of development.
“Our projects are moving ahead and work will not stop. On the contrary, the pace will accelerate. We remain committed to a clear development agenda,” he said.
Dubai’s population could reach 5 million by late 2029 or early 2030 if annual growth of 5 to 6 percent continues, according to Dubai’s Data and Statistics Establishment.