The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) in Dubai has opened a new 800-metre tunnel on Umm Suqeim Street, built as part of a wider road development project aimed at improving traffic between major highways and residential areas.
Improved road capacity
The new tunnel includes four lanes in each direction and is located near the intersection of Umm Suqeim Street and Al Barsha South Street, close to Kings’ School. It is part of the 4.6 km-long Umm Suqeim Street Development Project that stretches from Al Khail Road to Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road.
According to RTA, the project is designed to meet growing transport demand and serve residential and commercial areas with a population of over one million.
Faster travel times
“The Umm Suqeim Street Development Project extends from the intersection with Al Khail Road to the intersection with Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road, covering a distance of 4.6 km,” said His Excellency Mattar Al Tayer, Director General and Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of the RTA. “The works included upgrading the intersection of Umm Suqeim Street with Al Barsha South Street, near Kings’ School, where an 800-metre-long underpass with four lanes in each direction was constructed, in addition to a signalised surface-level intersection.”
Al Tayer added that the upgrade will reduce travel time between Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road and Al Khail Road by 61%, cutting it from 9.7 minutes to 3.8 minutes. The road now has a total capacity of 16,000 vehicles per hour.
East-west road links
The tunnel is part of a broader corridor upgrade from Jumeirah Street to Emirates Road, totaling 16 km. This corridor connects with major highways including Sheikh Zayed Road, Al Khail Road, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road, and Emirates Road.
“The completion of the project complements RTA’s efforts to upgrade this corridor,” Al Tayer said. “It also serves several residential and development areas, including Al Barsha South 1, 2, and 3, Dubai Hills, Arjan, and Dubai Science Park.”
Use of smart technology
RTA incorporated smart technologies in the project, including drones powered by artificial intelligence to track construction activity. These tools helped reduce field survey time by 60% and increased monitoring efficiency by 40% through time-lapse imaging.
Phase I of the Umm Suqeim Street Development was completed in 2013, covering the stretch between Sheikh Zayed Road and Al Khail Road. It included two bridges, new signalised intersections, and pedestrian bridges to improve safety.
In 2020, RTA also completed a 500-metre bridge near Dubai Hills Mall, increasing capacity and access to nearby residential areas.
