Commuters travelling from Sharjah towards Dubai could see shorter peak-hour journeys from Sunday, as a newly expanded section of Emirates Road is set to open with two additional traffic lanes.
The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) will open the 5-kilometre expansion on August 30, extending the section carrying traffic from Sharjah towards the Wadi Al Amardi area.
The project increases the number of lanes on the affected section from six to eight, raising its capacity from around 12,000 to 16,000 vehicles per hour. RTA expects the additional capacity to reduce journey times by up to 25% during peak hours.
For people who regularly drive between Sharjah and Dubai, the change is intended to ease pressure on one of the UAE’s busiest road corridors, particularly during periods of heavy traffic.
Emirates Road capacity increases
The extra lanes are designed to allow more vehicles to move through the corridor at the same time, reducing pressure on existing lanes as traffic volumes continue to grow.
Emirates Road carries more than 240,000 vehicles a day in both directions and is used by both private motorists and trucks. It connects Dubai with Sharjah and the other Northern Emirates, while also providing access to residential areas, industrial zones and logistics facilities.
The higher capacity is therefore expected to benefit more than daily commuters. Businesses that rely on road transport and freight movements could also benefit from improved traffic flow along the corridor.
Sharjah-Dubai travel
The expansion is particularly relevant to motorists travelling between Sharjah and Dubai, where traffic congestion can add significant time to daily journeys.
RTA said the project is part of its longer-term plans to improve major road corridors in line with population growth and increasing travel demand between Dubai and the Northern Emirates.
The authority has also carried out other improvements along Emirates Road, including a new access point connecting Al Awir 1 to the road, changes to entry and exit points, and better links with Al Amardi Street and nearby development areas.
Together, these projects are aimed at improving the movement of traffic across the wider road network rather than relying on a single traffic solution.
The expanded section will open to traffic on August 30.
For motorists using Emirates Road from Sharjah towards Wadi Al Amardi, the main change will be the addition of two lanes, taking the road from six to eight lanes.
RTA says the expansion will increase road capacity by about 33%, from 12,000 to 16,000 vehicles per hour, while peak-hour journey times could fall by up to 25%.
The actual time saved will depend on traffic conditions, the time of travel and the wider road network.
tanvir@dubainewsweek.com
