Warning to drivers and air travellers as roadworks slow traffic around Dubai International Airport

New tunnel diversions in the direction of Al Qusais district

Major works to boost capacity on Airport Road have been ongoing since last year, as this picture from July 2017 shows. Duncan Chard for The National

Commuters and airline passengers are being urged to plan ahead as roadworks begin around Dubai International Airport.

Diversions were put in place at the airport tunnel towards Deira and Marrakech Street on Friday, April 13.

Motorists travelling in the direction of Al Qusais to the Airport and Marrakech roads will need to use the Nadd Al Hamar Street, Rabat Street and internal streets in Umm Ramool, the transport authority said on Twitter.

Last week, the RTA informed commuters that the measures would be in place from April 13. The authority said traffic would be diverted to a temporary roundabout at the Marrakech intersection instead of using the upper bridge.

The changes are part of the authority's wide-ranging plans to ease congestion for motorists. It is part of an overall Airport Street Project to accommodate projected growth in the number of passengers using the Dubai International Airport. That is estimated to increase to 92 million by 2020.

Once completed, the entire project will boost the capacity of the Airport Street by 5,000 vehicles per hour, improve safety and increase flow of traffic, the RTA had said.