Work is underway on a $1.36bn (Dh5bn) project in UAE, to convert the 14km Salam Street in capital city Abu Dhabi to an urban expressway.

The expressway, with a network of roads and tunnels, will stretch from the under construction Shaikh Zayed bridge to Port Zayed and is expected to carry 6,000 vehicles per hour.

The expressway will create an uninterrupted expressway, which will reduce congestion and minimise fuel consumption and air pollution.

The project is being carried out under four contracts and is expected to finish by October 2010.