Musanada achieves 59% of Mafraq-Ghuwaifat Highway

The Abu Dhabi General Services Company (Musanada), in collaboration with the Department of Municipal Affairs and Transport (DMAT), revealed that it has completed 59% of the Mafraq-Ghuwaifat International Highway project, linking western region cities and facilitating commercial transport on the international road.

The move is part of the efforts to implement the vision of President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, to realise Abu Dhabi Vision in accordance with the integrated government plans addressing comprehensive growth and development and establishing sustainable infrastructure in line with the highest international standards.

The teams of AED 5.3 billion project are working 24/7 to deliver to DMAT as per the project plan and within the timeframe by mid-2017 in accordance with DMAT’s specifications and engineering standards. The project includes the construction of 15 new upper interchanges, along with basic improvements to the existing interchanges at Mafraq, Hameem, Abu Al Abyad and Madinat Zayed interchanges, as well as major improvements on the existing interchanges, bringing the total improvement works up to 246km long.

"In compliance with the visions of our prudent leadership to construct an integrated and sustainable road network in line with highest international standards in order to support the comprehensive development process witnessed by the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, 59% of Mafraq-Ghuwaifat Highway project has now been completed," commented Eng. Faisal Al Suwaidi, DMAT’s Director of Main Roads Divisions.

"This project complements several other projects that aim to accommodate the expected increase in traffic volume, in order to keep pace with the accelerated growth experienced across all areas, improve traffic safety on roads, eliminate congestions due to huge numbers of vehicles using this road, reduce the number of traffic accidents and increase safety ratios, as well as facilitate commercial land transport with neighboring countries," added Eng.

Al Suwaidi referred to the cooperation between DMAT and Musanada through streamlining efforts and competencies and adopting teamwork spirit in public interest.

"The highway project extends from Mafraq to the international borders with Saudi Arabia at Ghuwaifat, passing through Al Ruwais industrial centre," explained Eng. Hamdan Ahmed Al Mazrouei, Musanada’s Acting Roads Director. "The project encompasses construction of new lanes in both directions, from 2 to 4 lanes in each direction along the 182km-long section stretching from Mafraq until Baynounah Forest area, and from 2 to 3 lanes along the 46km-long section from Baraka to Ghuwaifat."

Since the inception of the project in March 2014, Musanada, in collaboration with DMAT, was keen to reinforce coordination and cooperation with the concerned authorities, particularly the General Headquarters of Abu Dhabi Police, to control progress in line with best methods and highest safety criteria. Ongoing coordination has been maintained to ensure traffic safety for vehicle users alongside the existing road, ensuring that the traffic flow is not affected.

For this purpose, safe detours were constructed throughout all construction phases, following best safety specifications and in conformity with the standard specifications of DMAT’s Traffic Detours Manual and in accordance with latest international traffic standards. All traffic detours are reviewed and approved by the DMAT-Musanada team, after obtaining the final approval of the Traffic Engineering and Roads Safety Department at Abu Dhabi Police.

Coordination is also sought with all Abu Dhabi government’s entities and companies to facilitate progress of works and prioritising the project by obtaining the necessary permits and approvals in respect of the infrastructure and utility lines throughout the road.

The project encompasses construction of lay-bys for road users (i.e. vehicles and trucks). There will be two shoulders on both right sides of the road for emergencies. In addition, work is in progress to construct a camel underpass close to Silaa and Ghuwaifat, serving camel’s owners in the areas surrounding the road and the camel race track close to Al Silaa area.

Musanada deploys a number of critical techniques that will enhance the level of environmental sustainability. The new road will be raised in many locations along the highway to avoid undesired impacts of underwater whilst helping drain rainwater, in light of the expected increase of traffic volume upon handover of the project in 2017.

This will result in fulfilling several benefits for residents of the western region and road users, such as accommodating the flow of vehicles and trucks in full, minimising congestions, enhancing safety and security standards and significantly reducing accident ratios. And as part of Musanada’s commitment in the area of green sustainability, the new project has been supplied with LED lightening systems which will achieve a minimum of 60% drop in energy consumption.

Source :WAM