DUBAI: A tunnel on both sides of Shaikh Rashid Street (Al Garhoud and Mina Rashid) comprising four lanes in each direction is set to open in Dubai on Thursday, May 3, according to the Dubai Roads and Transport Authority (RTA).

Mattar Al Tayer, Director-General and Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of the RTA, said the new tunnel will boost the traffic flow on Shaikh Rashid Street.

The tunnel forms part of the Improvement of Shaikh Rashid and Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Streets Intersection Project.

Starting May 3, If you are going from Al Garhoud Bridge to Al Shindagha tunnel or Port Rashid and vice versa, you can use the new 4-lanes broad tunnel on Sheikh Rashid road, which will help in reducing the traffic in the area.#DubaiProjects#DubaiRoads pic.twitter.com/R8geamdfUX — RTA (@RTA_Dubai) April 28, 2018

Early February this year, RTA opened two major bridges, one on Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Street comprising two lanes in each direction, and the other was a one-lane bridge stretching from Zabeel Street to the direction of Shaikh Rashid Street.

RTA opens 4-lane tunnel on Sheikh Rashid Street on Thursday. For more, visit: https://t.co/d59n6xYb3x pic.twitter.com/lKC82oqbnW — RTA (@RTA_Dubai) April 28, 2018

The opening of the two bridges had eased the traffic heading to Al Karama, and the World Trade Center junction in the direction of Shaikh Zayed Road.

A four-lane flyover and an access bridge opened on February 3, easing traffic moving into and heading out of Karama and Bur Dubai. It forms part of the Shindagha Corridor, a major infrastructure upgrade starting from Wafi Interchange and stretching all the way to Al Mamzar. — Gulf news.

"The project is located at the intersection of Shaikh Rashid Street leading to Al Shandagha northward, and Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Street leading to the intersection with Al Kuwait Street," the official explained.

"The project is part of RTA's master plan for the improvement of roads, bridges, crossings and underpasses to accommodate the growing traffic volumes, and ease the traffic movement in all parts of Dubai Emirate."

"It is also part of the overall efforts to implement RTA's strategic plan for upgrading roads and transport infrastructure in Dubai," he added,

"The objective is to develop integrated solutions of roads and marine network that are safe for users, and capable of matching the development plans and demographic growth and encouraging the development and investment in the Emirate," said Al Tayer.

Tunnels: 4 lanes in each direction

"The development includes the construction of two bridges on Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Street comprising two lanes in each direction to ease the traffic flow from the Trade Center R/A to the intersection of Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Street and Al Kuwait Street and vice versa.

It also includes the construction of another single-lane ramp stretching from Zabeel Street and heading to Shaikh Rashid Street.

"It also entails the construction of a tunnel of four lanes in each direction on the Shaikh Rashid Street in the direction of the intersection with Al Mankhool Street, and a signalised junction under the bridge to provide free turns from main roads to subsidiary roads. It also includes lighting, pavement, irrigation, sewage, storm-water drainage works as well as the shifting and protecting utility lines such as electricity, water and telecommunication," added Al Tayer.