Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Ruler of Sharjah, inaugurated the first phase of a major road development project on Wednesday, opening new links between Sharjah and Dubai ahead of what officials say will be a fuller network overhaul across subsequent phases.
The first phase centres on the partial opening of Al Taawun Interchange, activating several bridges and junctions to allow one-way traffic from Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Road toward Expo Center Sharjah. The timing is deliberate: the route is intended to ease access for visitors to the Sharjah International Book Fair, which draws large crowds to the venue each November.
Salah bin Butti Al Muhairi, Chairman of the Initiatives Implementation Authority, known as Mubadara, said phase two will bring the full opening of the upper-level junction at Al Taawun Roundabout, the completion of Al Taawun Tunnel, and the development of Al Khulafa Al Rashideen Interchange and its bridge connection to Jamal Abdul Nasser Street.
“This vision places people, their needs and their quality of life at the heart of development. The works completed in the project’s first phase put this vision into practice by developing vital routes and junctions and strengthening their integration with service facilities, keeping pace with the emirate’s growth and supporting efficient travel. We extend our sincere thanks and appreciation to the Initiatives Implementation Authority and all relevant local and federal entities involved in these projects for their cooperation, combined efforts, support and coordination throughout the various stages of work,” Eng. Yousef Khamis Al Othmani, Chairman of the Sharjah Roads and Transport Authority (SRTA) added.
“This institutional integration reflects an effective partnership that brings together expertise and resources to achieve development objectives and serve the emirate and its people. The value of these projects lies in their anticipated impact on people, families and their daily journeys, as well as the connectivity and efficiency they add to the road network. We are continuously working with our partners to complete the project to the highest standards of quality, precision, safety and sustainability, while accelerating progress to deliver infrastructure that serves present requirements and meets future needs,” he said.
The broader project spans five sections. At its core is Al Taawun Tunnel, a 560-metre, three-lane-per-direction structure with a target capacity of approximately 4,200 vehicles per peak hour. It is designed to separate through traffic from local movement and maintain continuous flow toward Dubai.
Al Khulafa Al Rashideen Interchange on Al Ittihad Road will gain two box underpasses and a 315-metre bridge connecting to Jamal Abdul Nasser Street, adding capacity for approximately 2,600 vehicles per hour in both directions. The works preserve sightlines along shopfronts to avoid disrupting commercial activity.
Upgrades at the First and Second Industrial Street junctions include two new bridges totalling approximately 866 metres and new signal-controlled lanes connecting Damascus Street in Dubai with Wasit Street in Sharjah. That section is designed to handle approximately 2,800 vehicles per hour at peak.
A new road link at the Third Industrial Street junction, the project’s most extensive addition, connects the Ring Road to Al Khan Street via two new bridges spanning approximately 2.7 kilometres in total. Officials estimate it will add capacity for approximately 5,200 vehicles per hour and open a direct route between Sharjah’s city centre and its industrial areas, while also strengthening connections to Port Khalid.
The fifth section widens the Ring Road between Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Road and Third Industrial Street, adding two lanes toward Sharjah city centre and one toward Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Road.
In aggregate, the project covers approximately 9.18 kilometres of road with a paved area of 207,265 square metres. Bridge lengths total approximately 753 metres and tunnels 581 metres. A stormwater drainage network of approximately 19 kilometres has also been installed.
