Gulf Construction Online - Key Dubai projects to ease traffic woes

UAE Focus

An artist’s impression of the floating bridge.

Key Dubai projects to ease traffic woes

01 November 2006

The awarding of multi-million-dirham contracts for a number of vital projects in Dubai to reduce the burgeoning traffic conditions and ensure a smoother traffic flow has been approved by Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.

These include the first bridge on Shaikh Zayed Road, the floating bridge and the networks of roads at Al Sofouh area.
The construction of the Dh617 million ($168 million) bridge on Interchange 1 of Shaikh Zayed Road has commenced and will be completed within 30 months, said Mattar Al Tayer, chairman of the board and executive director of Dubai's Road Transport Authority (RTA).
The new bridge will ease traffic movement and link Shaikh Zayed Road with the upper and lower roads at Doha Street. The project includes the construction of a tunnel to link Mazaya Centre with the back street located behind the towers on Sheikh Zayed Road, as well as expanding and improving of Al Safa Road up to Al Wasl Road.
The total length of bridge will be more than 3 km, and the lengths of tunnels will be about 850 m.
Al Tayer said with the awarding of this contract, the sixth and final stage of the fourth axis contracts will be completed. The sixth stage will be 14 km extending from the Beirut tunnel to the first bridge on Sheikh Zayed Road. The project will provide entry and exit service roads to a number of important projects such as Burj Dubai, which is designed to be the world’s tallest tower when completed.
The construction of the Dh155 million floating bridge was set to start last month for completion in 10 months. The bridge consists of concrete slabs, each with a width of 6 m and a length of 20 m that will float on the water’s surface.
The floating bridge will accommodate 3,000 vehicles in each direction, providing a quick solution to alleviate the traffic congestion especially during the peak morning and evening hours in Dubai.
The bridge will extend from the surface intersection near City Centre and the Dubai Golf Club (Deira) and end at the junction that will be set up on Riyadh Street between Dubai Courts and Al Khour Garden. The project will ease congestion by 37 per cent on the Al Maktoum Bridge, which witnesses the traffic flow of more than 150,000 vehicles a day.
The bridge will have three lanes in each direction and an additional track between Khalid bin Al Walled Street and Oud Maitha Street. The bridge can open and close in 20 minutes. The opening and closing times of the bridge will be coordinated with shipment companies and abras to facilitate and organise ship and vessels movement in the Dubai Creek, said Al Tayer.
Meanwhile, work on the Al Saofugh Road network which costs Dh220 million, will be completed by January 30, 2008. The project includes the construction of a road to link Al Sofouh with Dubai Marine and comprises a navigation bridge over the waterway. The bridge will be expanded from one lane to three in each direction to improve the level of service on the road that links Dubai Marina with the Jumeirah coast.