New bridge connecting Bur Dubai to Dubai Islands set to open in 2026: RTA

Image credit: RTA

Dubai’s Road and Transport Authority (RTA) has announced the completion plan for the Al Shindagha Corridor Improvement Project which will connect the upcoming Dubai Islands area to Bur Dubai. The project meant to serve one of the most populated areas of Dubai, will be completed under an agreement signed between the RTA and master developer  Nakheel.

Nakheel, one of the world’s leading real estate developer, as part of its Dubai Islands project will construct direct entrances and exits to the area which will be connected to the bridge.

#RTA signed an agreement with NAKHEEL, the world’s leading real estate developer, to construct direct entrances and exits to the Dubai Islands project from Bur Dubai. The bridge spans 1,425 metres with four lanes in each direction. pic.twitter.com/W6OgrGMz5I

— RTA (@rta_dubai) September 13, 2023

New Bur Dubai bridge

The agreement was formalised by Mattar Al Tayer, director-general, Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors, RTA and Mohammed Ibrahim Al Shaibani, chairman of the Board of Directors, of Nakheel. The event was attended by other senior officials from the RTA and Nakheel Group.

The Dubai Islands project will have a direct entry and exit points on the Bur Dubai side through a bridge stretching across the Dubai Creek between the Infinity Bridge and Port Rashid Development Project.

The bridge extends 1.4 kilometres and comprises four lanes in each direction. It will have a total capacity of 16,000 vehicles per hour in both directions.

The new infrastructure link project will rise 15.5 metres above the sea level in Dubai Creek and will also feature a 75-metre-wide canal allowing ships of various types to traverse the creek.

#RTA signed an agreement with NAKHEEL, the world’s leading real estate developer, to construct direct entrances and exits to the Dubai Islands project from Bur Dubai. The bridge extends 1,425 metres and comprises four lanes in each direction with a total capacity of 16,000… pic.twitter.com/OdQ2fWxtfa

— RTA (@rta_dubai) September 13, 2023

New project to make Dubai bike, pedestrian friendly

The project encompasses a dedicated lane for cyclists and pedestrians on one side of the bridge and two elevators will be installed at both ends to ease the mobility of pedestrians and cyclists. The project also sets forth the construction of surface roads extending approximately 2 kilometres to connect with the existing roads from both ends of the Dubai Islands and Bur Dubai. The project is set to be completed by 2026.

Mattar Al Tayer, director-general, Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors, RTA said, “This marks the second agreement under the initiative to provide entrances and exits leading to Dubai Islands, a venture that RTA successfully undertook in partnership with Nakheel in 2020. The project envisaged constructing three bridges at the junction of Al Khaleej Street and Abu Baker Al Siddique Road, spanning 1.6 km that lead to Dubai Islands.”

“This project forms a key phase of Al Shindagha Corridor Improvement Project. It is one of the largest projects currently being undertaken by RTA with a total estimated cost of Dhs5.3bn.”

“It encompasses the construction of 15 intersections spanning 13 km in total. Due to its massive scope, the project had been split into five phases. The corridor serves Deira and Bur Dubai in addition to several development projects such as Dubai Islands, Dubai Seafront, Dubai Maritime City and Port Rashid. As such, it is expected to serve about one million people. It will slash the travel time from 104 minutes to just 16 minutes by 2030, and the time saved over 20 years will be worth about Dhs45bn,” added Al Tayer.

In 2020, RTA finalised the construction of entrances and exits connecting Dubai Islands from Deira, to elevate the road entrances and exits to Dubai Islands at the junction of Al Khaleej Street and Abu Bakar Al Siddique Road.

The project entailed constructing three bridges spanning 1.6km, namely: a two-lane bridge that provides smooth traffic flow from Dubai Islands to Al Khaleej Street in the North, and another three-lane bridge that ensures smooth traffic flow from Dubai Islands to Al Khaleej Street in the south in addition to a two-lane bridge that provides smooth traffic flow from Al Khaleej Street southward to Dubai Islands.

Mohammed Ibrahim Al Shaibani, chairman of the Board of Directors, of Nakheel said, “Nakheel and the RTA have both been at the forefront of innovation, looking at ways to develop sustainable environments, which further reinforce Dubai’s position as the global hub for innovation in developing infrastructure that shapes the future of smart cities.”

“Being an integral waterfront development situated at the northern coastline of the emirate, Dubai Islands will be easily accessible by land and see through the well-planned road bridges and water transport. We look forward to working with RTA to enhance the future vision of Dubai and to see Dubai Islands come to life,” added Al Shaibani.