Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) on August 8 opened five bridges leading to Deira Islands, constructed in cooperation with  top developer Nakheel. 

 

The bridges leading to the Deira Islands Project is a key part of the Al Shindagha Corridor Project currently undertaken by RTA stretching 13 km along the Sheikh Rashid, Al Mina, Al Khaleej and Cairo Streets. 

 

"The newly constructed bridges and roads provide access points to and from Deira Islands at the intersection of Al Khaleej-Abu Baker Al Siddique Streets. The bridges span 2,571 m in length and have a total capacity of 20,700 vehicles per hour," remarked Mattar Mohammed Al Tayer, Director-General and Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of Roads and Transport Authority. 

 

Deira Island Project, which is developed by Nakheel, is Dubai's new waterfront. It consists of four man-made islands reclaimed from the Arabian Gulf along the coast of Deira spanning 17 million sq m; rendering it the largest development project in Deira. 

 

The project comprises the construction of hundreds of hotels, furnished flats, mixed-use buildings and marinas. It is expected to attract about 250,000 residents.

 

"The intersection consists of several bridges starting with a two-lane bridge that extends 472 m and provides free traffic for motorists on Al Khaleej Street heading northwards to Deira Islands at a capacity of 3,000 vehicles per hour. The second is a three-lane bridge that extends 503 m and provides free traffic from Deira Islands in the direction of Al Shindagha Tunnel at a capacity of 4,500 vehicles per hour," stated Al Tayer. 

 

The third is a two-lane bridge that extends 647 m and provides free traffic from Deira Islands to Al Khaleej Street northwards at a capacity of 3,000 vehicles per hour. The fourth is a six-lane bridge that extends 362 m and links with the internal roads of Deira Island at a capacity of 7,200 vehicles per hour. 

 

The fifth is a two-lane bridge that had already been constructed extends 587 m and provides free traffic from Al Khaleej St. Southwards to Deira Islands at a capacity of 3,000 vehicles per hour. The design of the flyover crossing over Al Khaleej St. allows for the construction of two more bridges in the direction of Abu Baker Al Siddique Street.

 

"The project will raise the capacity of Al Khaleej Street along 1.8-km stretch, and provide better traffic safety and services from the intersection of Abu Hail Northwards to Al Baraha Hospital southwards. Such improvements are attributed to the addition of two signalised junctions at the intersections with Abu Hail and Abu Baker Al Siddique streets in place of the existing roundabouts. Street improvements also include rails, traffic signs, rainwater drainage works, utility shifting and street lighting," explained Al Tayer. 

 

The improvement of Al Shindagha Corridor is one of the biggest construction projects currently undertaken by RTA. Due to the massive scope of the project, it had been split into five phases, two have been completed.

 

Works completed covered upgrading the junction of the Sheikh Rashid-Oud Metha streets (Wafi Junction), and the intersection of the Sheikh Rashid-Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed streets.

 

Work is currently under way in Phase Three, which includes six contracts, one of them has now been accomplished covering entry/exit points for Deira Islands at the intersection of Abu Baker Al Siddique St. Construction works are in progress in Al Shindagha (Infinity) Bridge featuring an iconic architectural design that promises to be a unique landmark for Dubai worldwide, together with a ramp in the direction of Bur Dubai and bridges linking with Al Shindagha Tunnel. 

 

Works also include improvements on the Corniche Street as well as the intersections with Al Khaleej and the Falcon streets. Bridges under this phase extend 8.5 km, tunnels span 535 m, and surface roads extend 8 km in total. The project encompasses the construction of 10 surface junctions, and this phase will be completed by the end of 2022.

 

Phase Four of Al Shindagha Corridor Project covers improvements of Al Khaleej Street along with the intersection with Abu Hail Street as well as the intersection of Sheikh Rashid Street with Jumeirah, Al Mina and Al Mankhool Streets through the construction of bridges stretching 3.4 km, tunnels extending 2.25 km, six surface junctions, and roads extending 5.1 km. 

 

This phase is expected to be completed by the end of 2025. Phase Five covers the construction of bridges leading to Deira Islands Southwards extending 1.5 km. This phase is set for completion in 2027. 

 

Al Shindagha Corridor spans 13 km in length and covers the construction of 15 intersections. The project is surrounded by several mega-development projects such as Deira Islands, Dubai Waterfront, Dubai Maritime City and Mina Rashid. Upon completion in 2030, the transit time across Al Shindagha Corridor is expected to drop from 104 minutes to just 16 minutes.-TradeArabia News Service