Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid has given the green-light to a Dh2 billion road project set to boost safety and ease congestion on a key transport link between Dubai and Al Ain. The Vice President and Ruler of Dubai approved the major investment plan for Dubia-Al Ain Road, which will involve the number of lanes in each direction being increased from three to six over a 17km stretch, new bridges constructed and extra service roads created. Vehicle capacity on the route will be doubled from 6,000 to 12,000 per hour as a result of the overhaul, slashing transit times from Emirates Road interchange to Oud Metha Street from sixteen minutes to eight. The initial phase of the comprehensive scheme will include upgrading the junction with Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Road, a congestion hot spot. Four ramps will be constructed to serve traffic flowing in four directions, with work on this part of the improvement programme due to be completed in the first half of 2020. The existing bridge on Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Road will be redeveloped to enable the widening of the Dubai-Al Ain Road from three to six lanes in each direction, with service roads added both sides of the Road. The project will be led by Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority. "It (the improvement scheme) will serve several development projects on both sides of the Dubai-Al Ain Road such as Meydan, Dubai Silicon Oasis, Dubailand Residential Complex, Liwan and Dubai Design District,” said Mattar Al Tayer, director general of RTA. "In view of the immense nature of the project and the need to complete it within the timeline set, the project has been split into two phases. Phase one, which costs about Dh1.3 billion extends seven kilometres from the interchange of Emirates Road to the interchange of Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Road. "Phase two, which costs about Dh748 million extends 10km from the interchange of Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Road up to the interchange of Bu Kadra and Ras Al Khor Street. The development of the remaining sector of the Dubai-Al Ain Road from the interchange of Emirates Road up to the outskirts of Al Ain city will be undertaken in the future.”