Picture for illustrative purposes only. SHARJAH POLICE

A major commuter route in Sharjah has been closed to traffic for two months to facilitate construction work for the Etihad Rail project, the Sharjah Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has announced. The affected route connects Mleiha Road and Sharjah Ring Road, near University Bridge. The closure took effect immediately and is scheduled to remain in place until August 30. “These temporary measures are necessary for the development of the Etihad Rail project,” according to Sharjah RTA in a statement. “We kindly urge all road users to use alternative routes and adhere to traffic safety guidelines to ensure everyone’s safety.” The road is heavily used by motorists, many of whom rely on Sharjah Ring Road for access to the busy Emirates Road. Plans for an Etihad Rail passenger station in Sharjah were unveiled in March 2023. The station will be located near University City, a key area that houses numerous educational institutions and is close to Sharjah International Airport. Once operational, the station is expected to serve approximately 14,000 passengers per weekday, connecting Sharjah with the rest of the UAE via high-speed passenger trains that travel up to 200 km/h. The Etihad Rail passenger train service, a cornerstone of the UAE’s national transport vision, is scheduled to launch in 2026. Four major stations will be located in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, and Fujairah. The train will cut the Abu Dhabi to Dubai travel time to just 57 minutes. Construction progress was recently highlighted in a May 9 meeting between Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed, Ruler’s Representative in Al Dhafra, and Etihad Rail executives. Work on Etihad Rail began in 2009, with freight services already operational between Shah, Habshan, and Ruwais. The project will eventually link all seven emirates to Saudi Arabia and the wider GCC network, including Oman. ICA/Expat Media
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