Dubai airport, Expo 2020 roadworks over early next year

By Angel Chan

Metro may start running to Dubai World Expo by May 2020

DUBAI 13 September 2017: Road projects around the Dubai International Airport will be over by February 2018, according to the Roads & Transport Authority (RTA).

These are related to ensuring smooth traffic flow for Dubai World Expo 2020 – and judging by the current growth of progress – Dubai Metro may well start running to the Expo site by May 2020.

Key Elements of road projects serving Dubai World Expo 2020:

  • Upgrading intersections of Airport Road to accommodate the traffic movement around Dubai International Airport will be completed in February 2018.
  • Road projects around Expo will be completed in phases ending in February 2020.
  • RTA will also deploy 724 buses and 2,900 taxicabs or more to serve Expo.
  • It will construct 14 bus stations in different places.
  • Route 2020 project for extension of the Dubai Metro is progressing according to the set plan where completion rate has now reached 15 per cent and is set for operation in May 2020.

The RTA and the General HQ of Dubai Police recently endorsed the outlines of a five-year Executive Plan of Traffic Safety Strategy. It comprises four key drivers namely: traffic monitoring & enforcement, engineering of roads and vehicles, traffic awareness, and improved systems and management. The two sides also approved the Strategic Performance Indicators and the targets of the Dubai Traffic Safety Strategy 2017-2021.

marri mattar

Mattar Al Tayer, RTA Director-General and Chairman held a meeting with Major General Abdullah Khalifa Al Marri, Commander-in-Chief of Dubai Police. The meeting discussed ways and means of boosting cooperation in managing traffic movement during mega events in Dubai.

“These issues are highlighted by the improved traffic safety, smooth flow of traffic and enhanced safety of public transit means across Dubai in the interest of citizens and residents of the Emirate. These meetings are part of channels used by the two parties to develop common viewpoints and act in team spirit,” said Al Tayer.

Al Marri praised the existing coordination between the two entities. “The RTA and Dubai Police share a wide range of roles and responsibilities that serve the strategic objectives & goals of the Dubai Government. Their cooperation sets a role model for others to emulate in serving the common business without interfering in the specialist jobs of each party. This sort of coordination is bound to improve the services provided by the two departments to citizens & residents of the Emirate,” noted Al Marri.

The meeting discussed means of stepping up coordination in organising and managing traffic movement during major events to facilitate the mobility of people from and to event venues in a smooth manner. The two parties examined road and transport system projects designed to cater to Expo 2020 needs. The Enterprise Command & Control Center inaugurated last May was one of the key projects completed. The Center will contribute to monitoring and controlling the movement of all transit means and crowds during Expo 2020.