His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, has unveiled a package of projects to construct and develop internal and main roads linking the emirates of Sharjah and Dubai, at a cost of 750 million dirhams.
His Highness noted that the Al Tawun Square monument, which was removed to make way for a new tunnel facilitating traffic movement between the two emirates, will be restored to its original location — along with its cherished memories — once the project is completed. He indicated that "Al Nour Road", running from Al Uruba Street and leading into Dubai, will be inaugurated by the end of this year, affirming that Sharjah is open to its neighbours and is a "welcoming emirate" that embraces all who come to it.
Al Tawun Square
Sheikh Sultan opened his remarks during a phone-in on the "Al Khatt Al Mubashir" (Direct Line) programme, saying: "The Al Tawun Square monument holds beautiful memories that will endure, God willing, but necessity has its own rules. We were compelled to remove it temporarily until important development projects are completed. Al Tawun Road is important because it leads to Dubai, and that required either building an overpass above the Al Tawun monument or finding another solution. We were going to dig a tunnel underground comprising a dual carriageway reaching Dubai as far as Al Nahda Bridge, but we encountered the presence of this monument."
"We brought in the designer and engineers, who inspected the site and its foundations. They found that the foundations are embedded deep in the ground and are difficult to remove. The specialists indicated that it would be possible to design the road and reinstall the monument in its place after completion. Work is under way to achieve that, and God willing, the process of entering and exiting Al Tawun Street will take only a short time, while engineers simultaneously work to redesign and reinstall the Al Tawun monument in its place."
His Highness added: "The benefits of these works are clear across several key points, most notably the opening of an important corridor between us and Dubai that eases traffic flow on existing roads."
"Alongside this road, we are also developing another route — 'Al Nour Road' — running straight from Al Uruba Street and also entering Dubai at Al Nahda Bridge, which is set to open by the end of this year. Another benefit of opening this tunnel beneath Al Tawun Square is that it will ease congestion at the roundabout and allow us to connect the square directly to major arterial roads such as Emirates Street and Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Street. Directional signs will be placed on all these roads to guide motorists to Sharjah Expo Centre."
"The road will be fast and uninterrupted, leading directly to Sharjah Expo car parks. The total cost of these development projects is 750 million dirhams, and God willing, this investment will benefit everyone. We are opening these internal areas to our neighbours — Sharjah is a welcoming emirate that embraces all who come to it."
"Al Nour Road" from Al Uruba Street to Dubai will open by the end of this year. The Al Tawun Square tunnel will ease congestion and connect with Emirates Street and Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Street.