RTA awards Dhs696m contract to develop Trade Centre roundabout

Image: RTA/ X

Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has awarded a contract for the Trade Centre Roundabout Development Project, a major infrastructure enhancement aimed at improving traffic flow and accommodating Dubai’s urban growth.

The Dhs696.4m project will see the Trade Centre Roundabout, a critical intersection linking Sheikh Zayed Road with Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Street, Sheikh Rashid Street, 2nd December Street, Zabeel Palace Street, and Al Mustaqbal Street, will be transformed into a surface-level intersection, and five new bridges totalling 5,000 metres will be constructed.

These bridges will alleviate congestion and provide smooth traffic flow in multiple directions.

 Enhanced traffic flow and key location access

According to  Mattar Al Tayer, director general and chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of the RTA, the project will increase the intersection’s capacity significantly, reducing delay times from 12 minutes to just 90 seconds.

“This project will also slash travel time from Sheikh Zayed Road to Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Street from six minutes to only one,” he stated.

The development serves critical areas, including the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) — the region’s premier event venue — and the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), one of the top financial hubs in the MEASA region.

Additionally, communities such as Zabeel, Al Satwa, Karama, Jafiliya, and Mankhool will benefit, enhancing accessibility for over 500,000 residents and visitors.

Detailed bridge layout to optimise traffic around the Trade Centre roundabout

The project will introduce five bridges with high vehicle capacities to facilitate free-flowing traffic:

• Upper-level bridge: A 1,000-metre, two-lane bridge from Sheikh Zayed Road to Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Street, accommodating 3,000 vehicles per hour.
• Sheikh Rashid to 2nd December Street: Two two-lane bridges, 2,000 metres in length, with a capacity of 6,000 vehicles per hour.
• Al Majles to 2nd December Street: Two two-lane bridges, also 2,000 metres, connecting Al Mustaqbal Street with 2nd December Street, capable of handling 6,000 vehicles per hour.

Other road development  projects in Dubai

Alongside the Trade Centre Roundabout Project, the RTA has launched additional projects to improve Dubai’s transport infrastructure.

The Oud Metha and Al Asayel Streets Development Project includes upgrading four major intersections, building bridges that span 4,300 metres, and building roads that stretch 14 kilometres.

This project, expected to improve traffic flow by 75 per cent, will support Dubai’s growing residential areas and an anticipated population of 420,000 by 2030.

The RTA also announced the completion of all phases of the Al Khail Road Development Project, which features new bridges covering 3,300 meters and additional lanes stretching 6,820 meters across seven locations.

Read: Al Khail Road Development project completed – travel time to reduce by 30%

This expansion is projected to reduce travel times by 30 per cent and accommodate an extra 19,600 vehicles per hour across key intersections.