Dubai (PlantAndEquipment.com) - Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has granted two contracts totaling AED 1.161 billion ($316 million) for the Al Meydan Street Development Project, which is slated to be completed by the end of 2028.

The RTA will build 3.7km of bridges and 17km of roadways, as well as bicycle facilities, to transform Al Meydan Street into a stronger parallel corridor that supports Sheik Mohammed bin Zayed Road and Al Khail Road.

The first contract comprises around 14 kilometers and includes modifications to Al Meydan Street and Al Marabea' Street. The works comprise a grade-separated junction between Al Marabea' Street and Al Meydan Street with 1.6km of bridges, four lanes in each direction, and a capacity of 14,400 cars per hour.

It also comprises a three-lane connection between Al Marabea' Street and Sheik Mohammed Bin Zayed Road, as well as a 700-metre elevated link from Dubai-Al Ain Road to Nad Al Hamar Street.

The second contract extends Al Meydan Street between First Al Khail Street and Muscat Street and includes about 2 kilometers of additional surface roadways leading to Latifa bint Hamdan Street. The Al Meydan Street-Muscat Street intersection will be upgraded to a multi-level interchange with 1.4 km of bridges and four lanes in each direction.

Once finished, the expansion is planned to enhance north-south traffic capacity by 18% and reduce travel time between Al Manama Street/Dubai-Al Ain Road and Umm Suqeim Street from 30 minutes to 10 minutes.

The system will service about 500,000 people, including Dubai Hills, Nad Al Sheba, Mohammed Bin Rashid Gardens, District One, and Al Barari.