RTA, jointly with Majid Al Futtaim Group, has prepared AED 165 million contract to expand the approaches to MOTTY and enhance the streets and intersections around it. This initiative supports the directions of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister of the UAE, and Ruler of Dubai aimed at the development of road networks for addressing the tasks set by the growth of urbanization and the population increase. It also brings in the good pleasure of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister, and Minister of Defence.
The project entails the construction of a 300-meter bridge on Sheikh Zayed Road across a single lane that will enable motorists heading to the mall’s parking lots from Abu Dhabi and Jebel Ali direct access. Also, the ramp at Umm Suqeim intersection will be extended southward towards increasing the capacity of the intersection enhance the improvement of the movement from Umm Suqeim Street to the existing bridge that leads to the shopping mall car park.
The additional improvements include the provision of the following works: Resurfacing 2. 5 km of surface roads along the mall; Construction of three signalized surface intersection; Modification of the bus station at the Mall of the Emirates; Conversion of the street beside the Kempinski Hotel to two-way from one-way. Others are road markings, cross walks, Blair markers, pedestrian walkway, cycle track, lighting, traffic signs, drainage systems, and gardening.
His Excellency Mattar Al Tayer Director General and Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of the RTA stated that this improvement will drastically shave the time congestion from Abu Dhabi and Jebel Ali heading to Mall of the Emirates from 10minutes to only one minute. It will also cut the travel time from Umm Suqeim to 8 minutes from 15 minutes easing the traffic flow within roads close to the mall hence improving on traffic safety.
Mall of the Emirates that has opened in end of 2005 attracting more than forty millions visitors per year and has 454 stores, 96 restaurants and cafes, entertainment facilities are Ski Dubai and the largest VOX Cinema in Middle East.
