Sharjah-based contractor Al-Marwan Contracting begins tunnel construction in the Al-Taawun area of the emirate.
The project is part of the $204m new roads programme linking Sharjah with Dubai
The 500-metre-long tunnel will run beneath the Al-Taawun roundabout. It will feature three lanes in each direction, connecting Al-Taawun Street to Al-Nahda Bridge and, subsequently, to Dubai.
The project will feature a signalized intersection capable of handling about 4,200 vehicles an hour in each direction.
The tunnel will also provide access to Expo Centre Sharjah, Dubai and will form part of a transport corridor linking it to Al-Noor Road.
The Al-Taawun tunnel project is the centrepiece of the broader AED750m ($204m) road development programme in Sharjah, which was formally announced by Sultan Bin Muhammad Al-Qasimi, Ruler of Sharjah.
The programme consists of a network of tunnels, bridges and several intersection upgrades.
The other projects that form part of the programme include:
- Al-Noor Road: Extending from Al-Orooba Street into Dubai via Al-Nahda Bridge. It will serve residential and commercial areas in Sharjah and neighbouring districts in Dubai.
- Industrial Streets one & two bridges: Construction of two new 130-metre-long bridges, with two lanes in each direction. These will link with Maleha Road, Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Road and Al-Waset Road. The project will add a capacity of about 2,800 vehicles an hour in each direction.
- Industrial Street three: Addition of two new bridges at Industrial Street three, linking Sharjah’s industrial areas and the Ring Road. The 2.7km project will add dedicated turning lanes towards Maleha Road, Sheikh Khalifa Road and Al-Dhaid Road, and a culvert connecting Industrial Street three to the Ring Road. It will boost connectivity between Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road, Al-Khan Street and Al-Ittihad Road with a capacity of about 5,200 vehicles an hour in both directions.
- Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road Interchange: This involves the upgrade of the existing interchange on Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road. The project will enhance the connectivity between the highway and the Al-Taawun, Al-Khan and Al-Buhaira areas.
