New 62km road to link Abu Dhabi-Dubai by 2014

The Department of Transport (DoT) has invited bids for the construction of a new 62km-long Abu Dhabi-Dubai dual carriageway, it was announced here on Monday.The Dh2 billion project (E311), which is expected to be completed by the end of 2014, will start from the end of Emirates Road in Seih Shuoaib and go through Al Maha Forest and Khalifa Port Industrial Zone (B) and connect the Sweihan Road (E20) interchange.The new main road is expected to accommodate up to 7,000 vehicles per hour.The DoT, through this project, aims to alleviate traffic congestion on the current main road connecting Abu Dhabi and Dubai (E11), and provide a new strategic link between the two most populated emirates in the country, as well as create new entrances to the city of Abu Dhabi, the Abu Dhabi International Airport, Yas and Saadiyat Islands.The new E311 will serve the Khalifa Port Area and the South Shamkha, Wathba and Baniyas residential areas and labour accommodations, and will be for both heavy and light vehicles.The road will also cater to the new Khalifa Industrial Zone (KIZAD) (A) and (B) in Abu Dhabi at Taweelah as the road is being designed to accommodate up to 7,000 vehicles per hour. In addition, it will also facilitate connectivity to Al Ain as it links up with E22 (Abu Dhabi–Al Ain main road) and the rest of the main road network in Abu Dhabi emirate.The construction of the road will be executed through two tenders. The first tender is to construct 34km with three interchanges; the second will be for the construction of 28km road and will also include three new interchanges and the modification of an existing interchange.About 830-metre-high light columns at a gap of 300 metres will light up the road. It will provide ample lighting at night and will follow best sustainable standards, which would reduce energy consumption, be environment friendly and reduce operational cost.For optimal road safety, the road will feature six laybys, three in each direction at 20km intervals and a rainwater drainage as well as a fencing on both sides to prevent herds of animals from crossing it.