Dubai: RTA opens key bridge as part of major Hessa Street overhaul

Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has officially opened a vital two-lane bridge spanning 1,000 metres to improve traffic flow between Hessa Street and Al Khail Road.

The new bridge promises to significantly ease congestion, reducing travel time from Hessa Street to Al Khail Road from 15 minutes to just three.

This is a crucial step in the ongoing Hessa Street development project, aimed at enhancing connectivity across the city’s expanding urban landscape.

According to the RTA, 54 per cent of the Hessa Street project, which also includes the upgrade of four major intersections, has already been completed.

The entire development is expected to be fully operational by Q4 2025, facilitating smoother access to Dubai’s city centre and Dubai International Airport.

Project to double capacity to 8,000 vehicles per hour

Mattar Al Tayer, director general and chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of the RTA, highlighted that the Hessa Street development covers a 4.5km stretch, from its intersection with Sheikh Zayed Road to Al Khail Road.

The project aims to keep pace with the rapid growth of Dubai’s infrastructure.

“The project is not just about improving traffic flow, but also about addressing the demands of a growing population and urban development,” Al Tayer stated. The upgrade will increase Hessa Street’s capacity from 8,000 vehicles per hour to 16,000 vehicles per hour, effectively doubling its capacity.

Hessa Street development: Supporting the emirate’s expanding population

The Hessa Street development is expected to serve a growing residential population, particularly in areas such as Al Sufouh 2, Al Barsha and Jumeirah Village Circle.

By 2030, the population in these areas is projected to exceed 640,000.

In addition to road capacity enhancements, the project also includes the construction of a 13.5km cycling and e-scooter track.

The track will link key residential areas, such as Al Barsha and Barsha Heights, to important commercial hubs like Dubai Internet City, enhancing sustainable mobility options and providing better first and last-mile connectivity.

Upgrades to key intersections

Four key intersections are being upgraded as part of the project. The first is the intersection of Hessa Street and Sheikh Zayed Road, where a two-lane ramp will be constructed to facilitate smoother traffic flow from Sheikh Zayed Road onto Hessa Street heading east.

At the Hessa Street and First Al Khail Road junction, the existing three-lane bridge will be expanded to four lanes in each direction, complemented by improvements to the surface-level junction.

Further developments at the Hessa and Asayel Streets intersection will include widening the bridge and upgrading the traffic signals.

Meanwhile, the Hessa and Al Khail Road intersection will feature a new two-lane ramp that ensures seamless traffic flow northbound toward Sharjah.

Key feature

A standout feature of the project is its commitment to sustainable transport. The 13.5km cycling and e-scooter track will feature two architecturally distinctive bridges designed for cyclists and pedestrians.

These bridges will span across Sheikh Zayed Road and Al Khail Road, each measuring five metres wide, with three metres allocated to cycling and e-scooter lanes and two metres dedicated to pedestrian paths.

With the track expected to accommodate up to 5,200 users per hour, the project is designed not only to improve mobility for residents but also to provide seamless connectivity to key metro stations and commercial destinations.

Other works completed

In recent news, RTA announced it had completed expansion works at the intersection of Omar bin Al Khattab Street and Al Maktoum Street, spanning 500 metres.

The improvements include the addition of a dedicated lane for vehicles travelling from the Clock Tower Roundabout towards Al Khaleej Street, and a new lane for traffic moving from Al Khaleej Street to the Clock Tower via Omar bin Al Khattab Street.

The dedicated lane for vehicles travelling from Al Khaleej Street to Omar bin Al Khattab Street and onwards to Naif Street has also been enhanced to accommodate more vehicles and improve traffic flow.