Dubai RTA boosts Hessa Street capacity with major new bridges and lanes

The Dubai Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has opened Phase I of the Hessa Street Development Project, marking a major milestone in a strategic road upgrade designed to ease congestion and support Dubai’s long-term urban growth.

The newly opened phase extends from Al Khail Road to Sheikh Zayed Road over a length of 4.5km and includes the widening of Hessa Street, alongside bridges at intersections with Al Asayel Street, First Al Khail Street, and Sheikh Zayed Road.

Capacity has been expanded to four lanes in each direction, improving traffic flow for vehicles travelling from Al Khail Road towards Hessa Street and onwards to Sheikh Zayed Road.

Overall project completion has reached 90 per cent, with the remaining road works, bridges, intersection improvements, and cycling tracks scheduled for completion in the second quarter of this year.

Hessa Street in Dubai

Roads and Transport Authority Director General, Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors Mattar Al Tayer said the Hessa Street Development Project, with a total cost of approximately AED690mn ($188m), is being implemented in line with the directives of the wise leadership to continue developing Dubai’s road infrastructure network and meet the requirements of sustained growth, urban expansion, and population increase.

Al Tayer said: “It constitutes a major road infrastructure development project serving several residential and development areas, including Al Sufouh 2, Al Barsha residential area, and Jumeirah Village Circle.

“The population of the areas served by the project is expected to exceed 640,000 residents by 2030. The project will double traffic capacity on Hessa Street, increasing capacity from 8,000 vehicles per hour in both directions to 16,000 vehicles per hour.

“Hessa Street Development Project extends from the intersection with Sheikh Zayed Road to the intersection with Al Khail Road over a length of 4.5 km.

“The project includes the development of four major intersections along Hessa Street with Sheikh Zayed Road, First Al Khail Street, Al Asayel Street, and Al Khail Road, in addition to widening Hessa Street from two to four lanes in each direction.

“These works will double traffic capacity on Hessa Street, raising it to 8,000 vehicles per hour, and include the construction of a 13.5 km cycling track.”

Cycling tracks

Al Tayer added: “The project includes developing dedicated cycling and e-scooter tracks extending 13.5 km, 4.5 metres wide. The track links Al Sufouh and Dubai Hills via Hessa Street and serves several residential neighbourhoods, including Al Barsha and Barsha Heights.

“The development supports first- and last-mile journeys through direct connectivity with Dubai Internet City Metro Station and key commercial and service destinations across the area.

“The cycling track features a dedicated bridge crossing Sheikh Zayed Road and Al Khail Road, 5 metres wide (3 metres for cycling and e-scooters and 2 metres for pedestrians), and incorporates a unique architectural design inspired by the surrounding environment”.

The project includes the development of four intersections:

• The first is Hessa Street’s intersection with Sheikh Zayed Road, where a directional ramp bridge will be constructed with a capacity of two lanes, passing over Dubai Metro’s Red Line and serving right-turning traffic from Sheikh Zayed Road onto Hessa Street eastbound towards Emirates Road
• The second intersection involves Hessa Street and First Al Khail Street, where the number of lanes on the Hessa Street bridge will increase from three to four lanes in each direction, alongside traffic-flow improvements at the signal-controlled surface intersection
• The project also covers the intersection of Hessa Street with Al Asayel Street, increasing the number of lanes on the existing bridge from two lanes in each direction to four lanes in each direction, with additional traffic-flow improvements at the signal-controlled at-grade intersection
• The fourth intersection, inaugurated at the end of 2024, involved the development of Hessa Street’s intersection with Al Khail Road, where a direct directional ramp comprising two lanes was constructed to serve traffic moving from Hessa Street onto Al Khail Road northbound towards Sharjah