Dubai Government’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has opened Phase 3 and 4 of the Expo 2020 roads.

The projects expanded Sheikh Zayed bin Hamdan Al Nahyan Street, which increased from two to five lanes in each direction.

Under Phase 3, a flyover was built at the intersection of Expo Road with Sheikh Zayed bin Hamdan Al Nahyan Street.

The project also saw the construction of 3km and 6.5km-long bridges over the road.

RTA director-general and chairman board of executive directors Mattar Al Tayer said: “In a nutshell, Phase 3 of the project covered the construction of a flyover at the intersection of Expo Road with Sheikh Zayed bin Hamdan Al Nahyan Street, which increases the capacity of the street from 2,000 vehicles per hour to 4,500 vehicles per hour in an East-West sector of Expo Street. It will ensure a smooth traffic flow to and from Expo.”

Phase 4 was carried out to streamline the flow of vehicles on the Sheikh Zayed bin Hamdan Al Nahyan Street and Al Yalayes Street.

It included the transformation of traffic light junctions to flyovers, increasing the road’s capacity from 3,000 to 10,000 vehicles every hour.

Two-lane service roads on the Sheikh Zayed bin Hamdan Al Nahyan Street and Al Yalayes Street were also constructed under Phase 4.

Al Tayer added: “The improvement of roads leading to Expo is one of the biggest roads projects currently undertaken by RTA to meet the needs of hosting Expo 2020 in Dubai.

“Due to the immense nature of the project, it had been divided into six phases to ensure the delivery of all works on the prescribed timeline, well before the opening of Expo.”

Under Phases 5 and 6, the intersection of Emirates Road and Expo Road will be renovated. A 4km bridge and 11km road extension will also be constructed.