Dubai: Dubai Metro services between Jumeirah Lakes Towers (JLT) and Ibn Batuta stations will be suspended from January 5, 2018 until mid-2019 to carry out metro expansion work, the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) announced on Sunday.

Construction work on the 15km-long Route 2020, an extension of the Dubai Metro’s Red Line connecting Nakheel Harbour and Towers station with the Expo 2020 site, began late last year.

Work is currently underway along the 15km route that passes through several densely populated areas.

According to RTA, the suspension of the services is dictated by construction works required for the building a new station alongside the existing Nakheel Harbour and Tower station and linking it with the existing one.

The construction will require the complete closure of the station as well as the attached multi-storey car park.

“Constructional modifications require the full closure of Nakheel Harbour and Tower Station as the rail track between JLT Metro Station, and Ibn Battuta Station will be fully closed from January 5, 2018, until the middle of 2019,” said Abdul Mohsen Ibrahim Younus, CEO of RTA’s Rail Agency.

A free express bus service will shuttle the passengers along the affected sector.

“To ensure the smooth mobility of riders between JLT and Ibn Battuta stations, RTA will deploy regular free express buses to shuttle commuters between the two stations during the metro service hours. This alternative transit service between the two stations will be running throughout the closure period,” Younus added.

The closure means passengers heading to the UAE Exchange Station are required to alight at JLT Station, board a shuttle bus to the Ibn Battuta Station and then continue their journey on metro to the UAE Exchange Station.

In the direction of Rashidiya Station, passengers are required to alight at Ibn Battuta Station, take the shuttle bus to JLT Station and from there proceed on to metro.

Younus has advised passengers to plan and allow an additional 20 minutes to complete their journey to avoid any delays.

The Route 2020 runs on an 11.8 km elevated track and 3.2 km underground, supported by seven stations, including an interchange station, a station at the expo site, three elevated stations and two underground stations.

Tunnel boring works and construction of elevated viaducts are currently underway simultaneously, with the viaducts already visible near the Expo 2020 site.