Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority has awarded the contract for the second phase of the Hessa Street Development project, launching one of the city’s most ambitious road upgrades aimed at slashing congestion and dramatically reducing daily commute times.
The new phase covers a three-kilometre stretch of Hessa Street between Al Khail Road and Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road, a corridor that currently experiences heavy peak-hour bottlenecks.
Once complete, the authority says travel time across the route will fall from around 24 minutes to just five, offering relief to thousands of motorists who rely on the road to access residential and commercial hubs.
The second phase includes the construction of bridges extending a combined 8,835 metres, alongside a 480-metre tunnel and multiple upgraded entry and exit points to streamline vehicle movements and remove traffic overlaps.
Capacity on Hessa Street will double from 4,000 vehicles per hour to 8,000 vehicles per hour. Officials estimate that nearly 650,000 residents across 10 communities will benefit from smoother and faster journeys.
A key element of the upgrade focuses on the Al Khail–Hessa interchange, where Hessa Street will be widened from two lanes to four lanes in each direction. Grade-separated collector roads will accommodate loop traffic, while elevated ramps will allow direct, uninterrupted flows.
Among the planned additions are second- and third-level flyovers connecting vehicles heading towards Abu Dhabi, eliminating signals and merging conflicts that currently slow commuters.
The upgraded interchange will feature bridges totalling 2,215 metres and handle up to 18,200 vehicles per hour. Engineers are also building a braided ramp designed to separate merging traffic between Al Khail Road and Al Khamila Street.
Additional works extend to the Al Khamila corridor, including a 1,650-metre directional ramp for traffic heading towards Sharjah and a 780-metre bridge offering improved access to Jumeirah Village Circle.
The junction will be upgraded with multiple elevated links and is projected to handle nearly 16,800 vehicles per hour once fully operational, easing pressure on surrounding residential streets.
Further east, new elevated ramps will connect traffic to Al Barsha South 1, while a second-level route will facilitate movement from JVC toward Al Barsha South. These additions are expected to accommodate over 11,000 vehicles per hour.
A two-lane tunnel will carry vehicles from JVC directly to Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road, bypassing surface congestion entirely. Meanwhile, Al Hadaeq Street will be widened and converted into a dual carriageway to support rising demand.
The project also places strong emphasis on sustainable mobility. A 10.4-kilometre cycling and e-scooter track will connect Dubai Hills and Dubai Motor City, passing through neighbourhoods such as Dubai Science Park.
Dedicated tracks are expected to encourage alternative transport options and enhance first- and last-mile connectivity for residents and workers.
Phase 2 builds on progress from the earlier stage, which upgraded four major intersections along Hessa Street and expanded the corridor to four lanes in each direction. That stage also introduced cycling infrastructure and new bridges to ease traffic flow.
A recently opened bridge linking Hessa Street to Al Khail Road reduced travel time between the corridors from 15 minutes to three, according to the authority.
Cyclists and pedestrians will also benefit from improved connections to public transport, including links to Dubai Internet City Metro Station, supporting multimodal commuting options.
Officials say the entire scheme reflects Dubai’s broader strategy of anticipating growth and investing in infrastructure before congestion intensifies.
With thousands of new homes and developments rising along the corridor, the Hessa Street transformation is expected to play a central role in shaping faster, safer and more sustainable mobility for years to come.