Sharjah: King Abdul Aziz Road will remain partially closed from Thursday night as part of the road works to construct an underpass and a bridge on Al Wahda Road.

The Directorate of Public Works in Sharjah announced that the road between Industrial Area 4 and Abu Shagara will be closed, and the road works are the fifth phase of the Al Wahda Road Improvement Project.

A senior official declined to comment how long the road will remain closed but that it is part of a long-term project.

Shaikh Khalid Bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Director General of Directorate of Public Works, said that all landlords of the buildings that will be demolished in the process of carrying out the works have been compensated.

Excavation works have already started at Industrial Area 4, parallel to King Abdul Aziz Road, which includes the removal and transferral of the utility service network. "Due to all the road works, we decided to close this road until the project is completed," said Shaikh Khalid.

The exit which leads to Al Wahda Road, coming from Al Estiqlal Road (also known as Immigration Road), will be closed in addition to Industrial Road 1 heading to the Abu Shagara junction that leads towards Al Wahda Road.

He explained that detours and alternative routes will be available in order to ease the traffic flow. Motorists will have to use the alternative routes in order to reach Al Wahda Road as there will not be any direct route available.

Shaikh Khalid said that the major road project on Al Wahda Street will start once the transfer of the utility service network and other developing works in King Abdul Aziz Road have been completed.

The Al Wahda Road project includes the construction of a multi-lane underpass that consists of three exits in both directions, and is expected to reach a total of 535 metres in length that will direct motorists on to King Abdul Aziz Road.

Shaikh Khalid pointed out that Al Wahda Road will be closed soon, and that the Directorate of Public Works are currently preparing alternative routes and detours to ensure smooth flow of traffic.