In pictures: Inauguration of Abu Dhabi's Salam Street tunnel

After five years and more than Dh3billion the 4.2-kilometre Salam Street tunnel finally opens to traffic at 6am today, with a new name and the promise of significantly easing traffic. Silvia Razgova / The National

Sheikh Hazza bin Zayed, national security adviser and vice chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council, yesterday inaugurated the tunnel, which has been renamed the Sheikh Zayed Road and Tunnel by decree from the President, Sheikh Khalifa. Photo Courtesy WAM

The grand opening will be the final step of the multi-phase Salam Street redevelopment project that began in 2007. Silvia Razgova / The National

The tunnel stretches from Delma Street, at the Sea Palace junction, up to the Corniche and Mina Road. The covered section of the tunnel runs for 2.4km, while the open section covers 1.8km. Ravindranath K / The National

The roadway promises to cut through numerous traffic jams allowing motorists to drive from the Sheikh Zayed Bridge to the Mina area within 20 minutes at a maximum speed of 80 kph. Silvia Razgova / The National

Traffic capacity on Salam Street is expected to double from 6,000 vehicles an hour. Silvia Razgova / The National

The tunnel is the most expensive, and biggest, of the four-phase project. It costs Dh3.1 bn, while the entire redevelopment project cost Dh4.8bn Silvia Razgova / The National