ABU DHABI, 23 March 2008 — UAE President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al-Nahyan has allocated $4.4 billion for infrastructure projects in parts of the seven-emirate federation, the official WAM news agency reported yesterday.
The funds will go toward setting up new towns and intercity highways as well as storm water and sewage systems in the northern emirates, WAM said without identifying which emirates will benefit from the projects.
Meanwhile, Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority announced that it has initiated the second phase of a project to expand Emirates Road from three to six lanes in each direction from Al-Aweer Junction to Al-Ain Junction.
“The first phase was completed in August in which widening works extending 12 km from the border with the emirate of Sharjah to Al-Aweer Junction was completed,” said Maitha bin Adai, CEO of the Traffic and Roads Agency.
The final third phase of the project will expand 10 km of the road, from the entrance and exits of Global Village to Arabian Ranches R/A. The final phase is expected to commence in April.
The project began in June 2006 with an estimated total cost of AED333 million. This vital traffic corridor currently accommodates 10,000 vehicles per hour in each direction.
