Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), is currently executing the last traffic diversion on Jumeirah Beach Residence (JBR) Street, Dubai Marina. The one-km-long diversion which lasts for at least one month, is part of the ongoing works of Dubai Tram Project which is scheduled to operate next November.
Detailing the implementation works, Engineer Maitha bin Udai, CEO of Traffic and Roads Agency, said, “The diversion works warrant temporary cessation of the two lanes on both sides of the street, thus shifting traffic temporarily to the service road. The RTA priorities as regards the tram project, is to ensure the highest degree of smooth traffic flow in the area, which requires the cooperation of visitors and motorists by observing and complying with road rules and following directional signs to avoid traffic snarls.
On the other hand, Bin Udai stressed RTA’s keenness to reduce the duration of project works in order to minimize traffic jams resulting from these diversions, and complete these works in the shortest possible time. “Work will be running daylong in the presence of a team of contractors and consultants ready for any emergency until the completion of the entire tram works.
The traffic diversion currently underway will include three intersections at the JBR Street,” added bin Udai, who urged road users and residents therein to cooperate in order to carry out the works associated with the construction phase of the tram project with its consequent traffic jams, which are the natural outcome of these temporary diversions, in preparation for the inauguration of the Dubai Tram in November 2014. The tram will be an attractive and safe mode of transport for passengers and will serve the communities of the JBR, Dubai Marina and Al Sufouh. Initially, 27,000 passengers are expected to use the tram per day in the first phase, and expected to soar to as many as 66,000 passengers per day in 2020.
The Dubai Tram project extends for a distance of 14.6 km along Al Safouh Street. A total of 10.6 km will be completed in the first phase, with the tram track starting at the Dubai Marina and ending at the Tram Depot near the Dubai Police Academy. In total it will include 17 passenger stations. In the first phase, a total of 11 stations shall be implemented; encompassing business districts and densely-populated areas. As many as 11 trams will be operational, with 14 more trams to be added to the fleet in the second phase, bringing the total to 25 trams.
The tram track basically extends at-grade level along Al Sufouh Road but rises in an elevated section across certain areas of Dubai Marina for reasons dictated by urban structures of the locality.
To integrate transport means in the emirate, Dubai tram is linked with Dubai Metro at two stations: Dubai Marina Station and Jumeirah Lakes Towers Station via footpaths to facilitate passengers’ movement between the two transport means. The tram will linked with the Jumeirah Palm monorail at the entrance of the Palm on Al Sufouh Street with an air-conditioned footbridge so as to facilitate passengers’ movement in a safe and smooth manner in line with the RTA’s vision.
Source : WAM News Agency for United Arab Emirates
