Page 13 - Saif Talk Magazine ISSUE 16-v8

ABOUT SHARJAH ABOUT SHARJAH

Dh5.5BN HIGHWAY

BETWEEN SHARJAH AND

KHORFAKKAN CUTS

TRAVEL TIME BY HALF

Khor Fakkan

The lake will also have boating and The second phase of the project,
other recreational facilities. which includes a road from Khor
Fakkan to Shais, will be handled by
Along with the tunnels, a significant two companies. This project has
portion of the road works have been been 14 years in the making and
done, while the remaining work is the idea was first conceived of by
expected to be finished by the end the Ruler of Sharjah who saw a need
of next year. for better infrastructure in the area.
A highway that will cut kilometers long road cuts through taking place on the Sharjah-Kalba
travel time between Sharjah five tunnels connecting Khor Road. Travelers from Dubai need
and Khor Fakkan by half Fakkan, on the East coast, to the nearly two hours to reach Khor
Dafta region of Sharjah on the coast Fakkan.
was inaugurated by His of the Arabian Gulf.
Highness Dr. Sheikh Sultan Now motorists will weave through “The 89km four lane
bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Al Sidra is the last of five tunnels mountains to arrive at their road, starts from Dafta
Supreme Council Member which have been completed along destination in just 45 minutes. Interchange near Masafi,
the Sharjah-Khor Fakkan road that
and Ruler of Sharjah, on begins from Emirates Road and Construction of the highway – on the old Fujairah road
14th April 2018, in the ends in Khor Fakkan. The four other part of the Dh5.5 billion Road 142 and cuts through the
presence of Sheikh Sultan tunnels are Al Saqab at 1.4km, project - involved boring through mountains, on its way to
bin Mohammed Bin Sultan Al Rogh at 1.3km, Al Ghazeer at mountains and included the Khor Fakkan.”
establishment of Al Rafisah Dam
Al Qasimi, Crown Prince and 0.9km, and Al Sahah at 0.3km. The Rest Area and recreational centre,
Sidra Tunnel is 7.3-metres wide and
Deputy Ruler of Sharjah. serves four lanes of traffic. Each which was also opened by the
tunnel also has a 1.1-metre wide Ruler of Sharjah on the same day.
Winding down the Hajar mountains, walkway. The Rest Area has 82,280 square
the aptly named Sharjah–Khor meter wide lake alongside a park,
Fakkan Road is a four-lane road and Currently, the shortest travel time complete with play areas, picnic
includes the 2.7km Al Sidra tunnel to Khor Fakkan from Sharjah as per spots, parking, a restaurant and a
that is also the longest covered Google maps is a 108-minute drive mosque.
tunnel in the Middle East. The 89 (135km) with most of the journey

12 ISSUE 16 JULY 2018 SAIF TALK JULY 2018 13