Abu Dhabi Department of Transport (DoT) in association with Abu Dhabi Police, announced on Wednesday a short-term safety enhancement program for the Al Mafraq - Al Ghowaifat road, the 327 km highway linking the UAE to Saudi Arabia. The AED40 million project aims to enhance traffic security and safety on the road, to bring it in line with international standards. Al Mafraq - Al Ghowaifat is considered the most dangerous road in the UAE. It is however, a very important road. The Abu Dhabi Department of Transport aims to improve levels of traffic safety on this vital road link to meet international safety standards, as part of the department's strategy to raise levels of traffic safety on highways across the emirate. According to recent statistics accidents on this road accounted for 14 percent of all road accidents in Abu Dhabi in 2007. DoT is investing AED40 million on necessary measures to enhance the safety of road users, including improving single balloon U-turns; closing dangerous U-turns between Al-Mafraq and Al Ghwaifat; installing directional and warning signs, road markings, solar power flashers at unlit U-turns, and speed humps in rest areas; enhancing pedestrian crossings through the Al-Sila area; and other measures. It is expected that all of these improvements will be implemented by the end of the year. In addition, Abu Dhabi Traffic Police, the strategic partner of the Department of Transport in this initiative, has installed 20 solar-powered automated speed radars throughout the entire roadway. Eng. Faisal Al Suwaidi, executive director - Highways, at DoT, said: “At DoT we realize the importance of the Al Mafraq - Al Ghowaifat highway, linking Abu Dhabi to the neighboring regions. We are also aware of the dangers that exist on this road. In cooperation with the Abu Dhabi traffic police, we are adopting critical measures to enhance safety, and reduce the rate of accidents. We are working to provide advanced transport systems in the Emirate to meet international safety standards.” Colonel Engineer Hussein Ahmed Al Harthi, director of the Traffic Engineering and Road Safety Department, Abu Dhabi Police, said: “Traffic safety is one of the most important priorities of the General Command of Abu Dhabi Police. Our plan ensures that we work with strategic partners such as the DoT to enhance level of traffic safety across the emirate. We will work to intensify our efforts to increase traffic awareness and reduce accidents, especially in areas where accidents are on the increase. To this end, we intend to install speed signs and speed radars and intensify police patrols, and to issue on the spot fines to those who violate traffic laws.” These immediate measures are part of a four-year long-term program to develop this major road link. Earlier this year, the DoT announced the selection of five international consortia for the new Mafraq-Ghweifat International Highway PPP (Public-Private-Partnership) Project Tender from an original shortlist of nine. The selected consortia will work on designing, building, financing and operating the 327 km highway linking Mafraq to the border post with Saudi Arabia at Ghweifat over the next 25 years. Currently, works are in progress on the Al Mafraq - Al Ghowaifat highway to expand the road to eight lanes, four in each direction, doubling the road's capacity up to the Al Ruways junction. After the junction, the road will be widened to six lanes, three in each direction, up to the international border with Saudi Arabia. __
