Dubai: Dubai has announced two more massive road projects providing easy access to International City and the Bluewaters Island — a new tourist attraction off the cost of Jumeirah Beach Residence (JBR).
The projects which will cost Dh700 million have been approved by His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.
According to the Dubai Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), one of the road projects is the Entrance Project for the Bluewaters Island. The second road project is to provide additional access to International City — a low-cost residential area spanning an area of more than 800 hectares comprising several residential communities as well as Dragon Mart.
Mattar Al Tayer, Chairman of the Board and Executive Director of the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), said on Saturday that the ‘Entrances Project’ for the Bluewaters Island comprises the construction of a bridge stretching from the Bluewaters Island, being built opposite the JBR coastline, to Jumeirah Lakes Towers Junction (JLT) on Shaikh Zayed Road.
The bridge, which is 1,400 metres long, will have two lanes in each direction and there will also be a dedicated track for the mono rail along with additional slipways at the junctions of Jumeirah Lakes, and a service road on Shaikh Zayed Road leading to the Island.
The RTA will award the project construction contract, which will cost around Dh500 million, in the second quarter of this year.
The new bridge and service roads will ensure free traffic movement to access the Bluewaters Island featuring an array of spectacular waterfronts.
The Island comprises the Dubai Eye, which is set to be the world’s largest ferris wheel. The Island will also host retail, residential, tourist and recreational facilities in addition to a 5-star hotel, a diverse cast of residential options, and a bazaar surrounded by a walk fitted with outdoor dining outlets. The Island is set to attract around three million visitors every year.
The project will be served by a monorail system to carry visitors from the Metro station to the festivities area.
A footbridge will also be constructed to link the lisland with the waterfront of the JBR, and a cable car to shuttle visitors to and from the entertainment zone.
International City
The International City Entrances Project extends from Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Road to Nouakchott Road and from Al Aweer Road to Al Manama Road. It comprises construction of a flyover at the intersection of Al Aweer and Nouakchott roads to provide a free left turn from Nouakchott Road to Al Aweer Road in the direction of Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Road, besides providing a U-turn for vehicles moving out of International City travelling in the direction of Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Road, thus bypassing a distance of more than 7km.
The project also includes widening the existing entry point to International City off Al Aweer Road by adding an extra lane to accommodate traffic volumes without impacting traffic movement. The project also includes transforming the existing traffic signal on Al Manama Road into a flyover allowing free turns in all directions, besides serving future developments around International City.
“This project is undertaken in collaboration with Nakheel, the master developer of the International City project and in light of the traffic impacts study for International City and Dragon Mart as well as the nearing completion of the Dragon Mart extension; which is anticipated to increase traffic congestions in the area,” said Al Tayer.
