AED 91 m Contract Will Make Dubai's Roads Greener

Staff Report (Gulf News) Published: August 10, 2008, 00:02
Dubai: The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has awarded a Dh91 million contract to expand the amount of greenery on Dubai's roads. The project, which covers the 72 kilometre Dubai Bypass road, aims to highlight the importance of beautification and greenery on Dubai's roads. Plants have been selected which suit the local habitat, act as windbreakers and curb desertification.
Mattar Al Tayer, Chairman of the Board and Executive Director of the RTA, said the project will add three million square metres (about 289 hectares) of greenery to the emirate. "We have given much attention to plants that match the location and importance of the Dubai Bypass Road. We have selected plants that fit well with the local habitat and that are considered the best in acclimatising to the prevailing weather conditions and soil nature.
Flora
"The flora will also cut down on irrigation and maintenance costs as well as act as a windbreaker and a means of curbing sand movement from both sides of the road." The Dubai Bypass road will provide motorists with an alternative route from Emirates Road and Shaikh Zayed Road. It will also give drivers heading from the northern emirates to Abu Dhabi, and vice versa, the opportunity to reach their destination without having to pass through downtown areas.
The first phase of the project was completed in March and the completion rate of phase two has just exceeded 95 per cent. Construction on the third and final phase, from Jebel Ali to the border of Abu Dhabi emirate, began in July 2007. It includes the construction of three camel crossings, water drainage channels, utility lines, a safety fence and lighting work.
Al Tayer added: "The RTA is pressing ahead with development work on a number of key roads in Dubai as part of a series of vital projects aiming to improve roads and provide better services in residential areas."