The Abu Dhabi General Service Company (Musanada) has announced that construction on the new AED2.1 billion ($572m) highway linking the UAE capital and Dubai is 70% complete.

The road, spanning from Seih Shuaib to Sweihan Interchange, is expected to be completed by the end of this year, Musanada said.

“The new highway will relieve the traffic pressure on the current Abu Dhabi-Dubai Road, bring down the number of accidents, [and] connect the Khalifa Port and Industrial Zone with the current and future road network,” said Eng. Faisal Ahmed Al Suwaidi, director-general of highways at the Department of Transport.

When complete, the project will form part of a road linking Abu Dhabi with Dubai and the Northern Emirates, he added.

The 62km-long highway, comprising four lanes in both directions, is an extension of the Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Road (E311) in Seih Shuaib at the Dubai border. It will pass through the Al Maha Forest, Kizad, Al Ajban Road, and Zayed Military City to Sweihan Road.

In addition, it will also include six bridges and six underground passes, expected to boost safety along the road.