Abu Dhabi’s Department of Municipalities and Transport (DMT) has announced that the first phase of the US $776 million Mid-Island Parkway project is expected to be completed in 2027, according to a 2 October report by Clayton Vallabhan in MEConstructionNews, citing the department. DMT says the eight-lane dual carriageway will connect Saadiyat Island with Umm Yifeenah Island and is expected to reduce travel times to Reem Island and Abu Dhabi’s main island from 25 minutes to about 10 minutes.
The project encompasses 2 km of reclaimed land protected by 150,000 square metres of rock armour, with an additional 1.5 km of the route running through an underground channel, including a 600-metre underwater section beneath Khor Laffan. Furthermore, the development will feature 4 km of walking and cycling tracks, extending the existing network to a continuous 12 km route across Saadiyat Island and Umm Yifeenah Island.
Incorporating sustainability measures, the project will utilise locally-sourced and recycled materials, install 23,000 metres of energy-efficient smart lighting, and implement drought-resistant landscaping supported by a 14,000-metre irrigation system. The first phase builds upon an existing highway along Saadiyat Island, providing access to key destinations such as Saadiyat Lagoons, Saadiyat Marina District, and New York University Abu Dhabi.
The DMT is also planning a second phase of the Mid-Island Parkway, which will extend the corridor by 14.5 km from Umm Yifeenah Island through Bilrimaid and Samaliyah islands to Sas Al Nakhl, Al Raha Beach, and Khalifa City. This phase will feature four lanes in each direction and is expected to further reduce travel times across the mid-island corridor to about 7 minutes.
Additional features of the second phase will include walking and cycling tracks, marine bridges, elevated flyovers, and an underwater road tunnel designed to minimise disruption to local ecosystems. Eisa Mubarak Al Mazrouei, director general of infrastructure development at the DMT, stated that the Mid-Island Parkway aims to enhance the emirate’s liveability and support sectors such as tourism, trade, and logistics.
Once fully operational, the Mid-Island Parkway is projected to reduce travel times across Abu Dhabi, with the journey between Saadiyat Island and Zayed City expected to take less than 15 minutes. The DMT has also unveiled plans for a 37 km coastal route linking Al Hudayriyat Island with the E11 at Al Nouf, which will include a tunnel, 7 km of marine bridges, and 4 km of causeways, providing a bypass around central Abu Dhabi traffic for freight and commuters.
The planned coastal route will include animal crossings and environmental safeguards around the Bul Syayeef Marine Protected Area and Ramsar wetland, according to the department.
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