Dubai: An eight-lane bridge on Shaikh Zayed Road will be ready by the year end, serving traffic towards Sharjah and 40 per cent of work on phase one of Dubai Canal is now complete.
Work on phases two and three is also taking shape with a 25 per cent and 15 per cent completion rate.
Phase one will see the construction of two bridges on Shaikh Zayed Road comprising eight lanes each, serving traffic from both directions.
Simultaneously, work is also in progress on phase two, which will see the construction of bridges on Al Wasl street and Jumeirah Beach Road, including flyovers replacing traffic lights at Al Hadiqa street-Wasl road junction as well as the Jumeirah-Athar-Wasl road junction.
In phase three, excavation work on a three kilometre-long canal is under way connecting the Dubai Creek from Business Bay to the Arabian Sea.
“The contractor of phase one of the project started construction work on the Northern Bridge on Shaikh Zayed Road in the direction of Dubai. Some 50 per cent of excavation work and casting of concrete piles have been completed, and the Northern Bridge is expected to open in the fourth quarter of this year. The construction of the bridge in the direction from Dubai to Abu Dhabi will follow,” said Mattar Al Tayer, Chairman of the Board and Executive Director of the Roads and Transport Authority.
Work is also in progress in constructing service roads in the Business Bay area, he added.
The bridges are being built to allow for smooth traffic flow over the canal, while also allowing for smooth navigation of boats on the canal around the clock. The bridges on Shaikh Zayed Road will stretch for 800 metres and work also includes moving the existing utility lines impacted by the canal course, in addition to the lighting and water fountain works on the bridge, said Al Tayer.
Traffic has been diverted on both Shaikh Zayed Road and Al Wasl Road, while a survey is being done to place a diversion on Jumeirah Beach Road as well.
“Work is progressing according to the plan in Phase II of the project, which includes the construction of bridges on Al Wasl and Jumeirah Roads, with a completion rate of more than 25 per cent. Drilling works and casting of concrete piles and columns have been completed for the bridges, while phase two of the traffic diversion is currently being prepared,” he said.
He added that excavation works are under way to protect the utility lines in preparation for constructing the traffic diversion on Jumeirah Beach Road.
“Phase two will also see the construction of a multi-tier flyover to link the traffic between Al Wasl, Al Athar and Al Hadiqa Roads in order to ensure full traffic flow upon the completion of the project, replacing the existing traffic signals. Bridges will also be built extending to the proposed peninsula at the southern part of Jumeirah Park. All the bridges over the Dubai Water Canal will be at a height of 8.5 metres allowing yachts to pass underneath,” added Al Tayer.
Marine tours
Apart from excavation of the canal, phase three will see building of the canal banks, construction of three pedestrian bridges over the canal, as well as constructing four marine transit stations.
“The canal will enhance Dubai’s image as a leading city in attracting leisure marine tours. The marine transit modes are expected to lift more than six million passengers annually according to the master plan of marine transport in Dubai. Phase three also includes filling works to build a man-made peninsula along Jumeirah [Beach] Park, which will double the beach line of the park, increase the park area, and allow for more leisure activities,” said Al Tayer.
Under phase three, work is currently under way to complete the protection of utility lines and the relocation of sewage lines on both sides of the canal, besides constructing a sewage pumping station and coastal works for the breakwater.
The project is expected to be ready by mid-2016 and is set to be the prime attraction for leisure, entertainment and social activities in Dubai.
