ABU DHABI’S Department of Municipalities and Transport (DMT) has announced that it is set to complete the first phase of the AED2.85 billion ($776 million) Mid-Island Parkway project in 2027.

Phase One will create an eight-lane dual carriageway linking Saadiyat Island with Umm Yifeenah Island and is expected to cut travel times to Reem Island and Abu Dhabi’s main island to about 10 minutes from 25 minutes, the DMT said.

The project includes 2 km of reclaimed land protected by 150,000 sq m of rock armour, while a further 1.5 km of the route runs through an underground channel, including a 600-m underwater section beneath Khor Laffan, said a statement from DMT.

The phase also includes 4 km of walking and cycling tracks, extending the existing network to a continuous 12-km route across Saadiyat Island and Umm Yifeenah Island, it stated.

According to DMT, the project incorporates sustainability measures including the use of locally-sourced and recycled materials, 23,000 m of energy-efficient smart lighting and drought-resistant landscaping supported by a 14,000-m irrigation system.

The DMT is also developing a second phase of the project, which will have four lanes, extending the corridor 14.5 km from Umm Yifeenah Island through Bilrimaid and Samaliyah islands to Sas Al Nakhl, Al Raha Beach and Khalifa City.