Dubai has opened a new bridge under a major road upgrade expected to reduce travel time from 20 minutes to five while improving traffic flow across key routes.
WEBDESK – HAJIRA IRFAN – SHARJAH NEWS
Dubai Moves Closer To Faster Journeys
Thousands of Dubai motorists are a step closer to faster daily commutes after the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) opened a new three-lane bridge under the Oud Metha and Al Asayel Streets Development Project. With the road upgrade now 90% complete, travel time along one of the city’s busiest corridors is expected to fall from 20 minutes to just five once the remaining works are finished.
The newly opened bridge links Al Khail Road* with Al Asayel Street through Al Wasl Club Street, providing capacity for up to 3,600 vehicles per hour and helping improve traffic flow on a key route used by thousands of motorists every day.
Drivers Will Save Valuable Time
The biggest benefit of the latest upgrade is the significant time commuters are expected to save.
Once the full development is complete, journeys along the corridor are projected to take just five minutes instead of 20, reducing travel time by up to 75%. In addition, the carrying capacity of Oud Metha Street will increase by 50%, helping traffic move more efficiently during busy periods.
For many motorists, that means spending less time in congestion and enjoying smoother, more predictable journeys across this important part of Dubai.
More Changes Arriving Within Weeks
While the new bridge is already improving traffic flow, additional upgrades are only weeks away.
The RTA confirmed that two new tunnels and another bridge will open before the end of August as part of the final phase of the development. One tunnel will connect the service road on Oud Metha Street with the Sheikh Rashid Road intersection for traffic heading towards Bur Dubai.
The second tunnel will improve traffic movement from Dubai–Al Ain Road to Al Wasl Club Street, while a new bridge will make left-turn movements from Al Asayel Street to Oud Metha Street easier, reducing traffic overlap at one of the corridor’s busiest intersections.
Road Network Gets Major Upgrade
The latest bridge forms part of a much larger infrastructure initiative designed to strengthen Dubai’s transport network as the city continues to grow.
The development includes improvements to four major intersections, 4.3 kilometers of bridges and tunnels, and 14 kilometers of upgraded roads. New lanes, service roads and redesigned ramps will improve connectivity between Oud Metha Street, Sheikh Rashid Road, Al Khail Road, Al Asayel Street and Dubai–Al Ain Road.
Together, these improvements are expected to ease congestion and create a smoother driving experience across one of Dubai’s busiest traffic corridors.
Growing Communities Will Benefit
The upgraded corridor will support several residential and service areas, including Zabeel, Al Jaddaf, Oud Metha and *Umm Hurair.
Important destinations such as Latifa Hospital and Al Wasl Club will also become easier to access. According to the RTA, the population served by the corridor is expected to exceed 420,000 people by 2030, making the road improvements increasingly important for the city’s future transport needs.
Progress Continues Across Dubai
The newly opened bridge builds on earlier milestones achieved this year.
During the first quarter of 2026, the RTA opened two additional bridges under the same development, improving connections between Al Asayel Street, Al Wasl Club Street and Al Khail Road. Each phase has gradually enhanced traffic movement while bringing the wider infrastructure program closer to completion.
A Major Boost For Everyday Commuters
As Dubai continues investing in smarter transport infrastructure, the latest bridge marks another important milestone in improving mobility across the city. With more bridges and tunnels scheduled to open in the coming weeks, thousands of motorists can look forward to shorter travel times, smoother traffic flow and quicker access to key destinations. The development is another step towards building a faster, more efficient road network capable of supporting Dubai’s continued growth.
