Dubai’s RTA to open Abu Dhabi-bound bridge on Sheikh Zayed Road

Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has announced that it will open the Abu Dhabi-bound bridge on Sheikh Zayed Road this Friday, July 1, as part of the Dubai Water Canal project.

Six lanes of the 800 metre long bridge – which includes eight lanes in total – will be opened as part of the first phase. The remaining two lanes will be open in mid-July 2016.

RTA recently opened the northern bridge on the road from Abu Dhabi to Dubai.

The bridge, which rises 8.5m above the water level, will allow free navigation in the canal.

RTA director general and chairman Mattar Al Tayer said: “By opening the southern bridge, RTA has effectively completed all works listed under phase I of the Dubai Water Canal project.

“This bridge is characterised by a unique design with waterfalls flowing from the top, and smart lighting fixtures controlled via a dedicated app supported by a database for tracking the lighting condition, and sharing information and operational commands.

“A full coverage is provided all over the place enabling RTA to interact with the social media through 3G technology,” he added.

The project’s second phase includes constructing bridges on Al Wasl and Jumeirah Roads.

“Earlier this month, RTA opened Al Wasl Road bridge comprising three lanes in the direction of Dubai and two lanes in the direction of Abu Dhabi in addition to two lanes for serving the traffic coming from Al Wasl Road heading to Al Athaar Road,” said Al Tayer.

About 50,000 vehicles now use the bridge every day, he said.

“The traffic flow on the bridge has improved massively, thus facilitating the movement of motorists from Jumeirah 1 to Jumeirah 2 and 3 as well as Al Hadiqa Road and vice versa.”

Also read: RTA awards Dhs 703m contract for Dubai Water Canal project

In March, the RTA opened phase II of the project with the completion of a bridge serving traffic from Al Athaar Road and bound to Al Hadiqa Road across Al Wasl Road.

“Work is gathering pace for the Jumeirah Bridge where the contractor is currently putting the finishing touches to the project, which will be open in July,” said Al Tayer.

“Once the three bridges crossing the canal are open, the contractor of phase III will complete the canal digging works underneath the bridges, build quay walls of the canal, construct three footbridges linking the two banks of the canal and setting up 10 marine transit stations.”

The marine transit modes are expected to lift more than six million passengers annually.

“Jobs also include landfilling works to build a synthetic peninsula along the Jumeirah Park that will double the beach line of the park, increase the park area and make a room for more leisure activities,” he added.

The overall canal stretches 3.2 km from the Business Bay Canal up to the Arabian Gulf via the Sheikh Zayed Road, Al Wasl Road and Jumeirah Road.