Dubai plans to live monitor 60 per cent of roads in new Dh590m scheme to cut congestion

Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has given the green-light to a Dh590m traffic scheme aimed at cutting congestion and slashing accident response times.

The expanded smart traffic system will monitor 60 per cent of the emirate's traffic in real-time - a sharp increase on the current coverage of 11 per cent.

The increased monitoring network is being introduced in a bid to ease congestion, reduce crash response time and bolster road safety in Dubai.

The project will allow for real time responses to traffic movement and reduce congestion at large events like Expo 2020, said the RTA in a statement.

“The project will also cut the time of detecting accidents and congestions build up and accordingly accelerate the response time,” said Mattar Al Tayer, the RTA director general.

“It will also provide instant traffic information to the public about roads network via new variable messaging signs and smart apps.”

The project’s first phase includes the installation of weather and traffic sensors and other data gathering systems.

An additional 112 digital signboards will be installed throughout Dubai to broadcast changing traffic conditions to motorists.

Fiber optic lines and new electrical lines will be laid to support the new systems.

The sensors and monitors will be connected to a new traffic control centre in Al Barsha South.

The National