Creek extension work nears crucial stage

Dubai: Preparations to start constructing the most crucial part of the Dubai Creek extension - from Business Bay off Shaikh Zayed Road to the Arabian Gulf - are in the final stages, Gulf News has learnt.

Major diversions on Shaikh Zayed Road will be in place in few weeks. The bridge on Shaikh Zayed Road will be 800 metres long with six lanes on each direction. It will be 8.5 metres high to ensure smooth sailing for marine transport.

A six-lane bridge with three lanes on each direction will also be built on Al Wasl Road next to the Safa Park and another six-lane bridge with three lanes on each side will be built on Jumeirah Road.

The canal will be 100 metres wide. The project involves extension of the Dubai Creek by 2.2 kilometres from Business Bay to the Arabian Gulf through Safa Park and Jumeirah 2. The project will be carried out in three phases and will be completed by the end of 2010.

The Dubai Creek extension canal will be part of Dubai's ambitious plan for marine transport, as it will be used by private boats, water taxis and ferries.

Some 10 kilometres of the total 12.2 kilometres of the Dubai Creek extension work has already been completed in Business Bay.

"The most critical part of the extension work is the next 2.2 kilometre stretch which will take the creek from Shaikh Zayed Road back to the sea," Mattar Al Tayer, Chairman of the Board and Executive Director of the RTA, had said earlier.

Dubai Creek, which starts at the Arabian Gulf near Al Shindagha in Bur Dubai, is currently 14 kilometres long and naturally ends at Ras Al Khor Wildlife Sanctuary.

Once completed, the final length of the creek will be around 26.2 kilometres with Bur Dubai becoming an island within the Dubai Creek ring.

The Creek has been the life-line of the city as Dubai was initially built along the creek. On completion, it will provide a comprehensive marine transport facilities as commuters will be able to use water buses, water taxis and ferries as an alternate mode of transport to beat the traffic on the roads.

How will this affect your ride to work? Will the water taxi service help ease congestion? Would you use it?

Excellent idea, Creek will help the new image of Dubai on the world map as well as ease the travel and will also decrease the traffic congestion.
Surendra Sharma
Dubai,UAE
Posted: February 16, 2009, 18:37

Fantastic idea, on same lines as Qasba Canal, but I want to know if the creek will flow like a river displacing/replacing water in it.
Shoaib
Sharjah,UAE
Posted: February 16, 2009, 17:41

I rented a place in Downtown Burj Dubai but I work in Media City ... God bless me!! Why can't all of it happen at the same time? I was eagerly waiting for interchange one to be completed ... but seems like I will be in for a really really long drive everyday now!
Othman Khalid
Dubai,UAE
Posted: February 16, 2009, 17:07

Wish you success in the project andreduce traffics congestion to ease travel
Qasim
Dubai,UAE
Posted: February 16, 2009, 17:03

Good project but in meanwhile will they stop charging toll as there will be no option for commuters to pay toll and stuck in traffic
Nadeem
Dubai,UAE
Posted: February 16, 2009, 16:33

As a former Dubai resident, I see pluses and minuses. The creek will be a striking visual addition
Larry Keon
Yanbu,Saudi Arabia
Posted: February 16, 2009, 15:30

I think it is a great idea! I have seen how busy Sydney harbor is and how many people use the ferries. My only suggestion to the RTA is to start work after the metro begins operation, as an added incentive for commuters to use the new service.
Bader
Dubai,UAE
Posted: February 16, 2009, 15:03

These bridges will help ease traffic congestion in the near future. But, as said, this will only make matters worse as traffic will be diverted to an already congested Shaikh Zayed Road. I think the real problem here is not the road network itself but the reality that there are too many cars on the road everyday. RTA should think of measures to combat this or come up with a scheme on how to minimise the number of vehicles traversing the already busy Dubai road network like for instance coding of vehicles e.g., vehicles with number plate ending with 1 and 2 will not be allowed to travel on Mondays, etc. This is just temporary while the new extension works are progressing.
Phil
Dubai,Philippines
Posted: February 16, 2009, 14:17

Good job, but I hope when I visit Dubai, the traffic is better.
Omar Hassan
Jeddah,Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Posted: February 16, 2009, 14:10

Sounds like a great plan for the future. But to make way for people to commute, can we have all this after September, once metro starts? So, for people commuting between areas like Bur Dubai and Free Zones, have another mode to not stay in traffic?
Mazhar Mohad
Dubai,UAE
Posted: February 16, 2009, 13:32

Yes of course..why not....it would be a good a experience..i think?!
Fred
Dubai,UAE
Posted: February 16, 2009, 13:20

This will help a lot to ease the travel and will also decrease the traffic congestion, as long as the RTA will offer a competetive fare. It would be very fast travel from Deira to Al Safa Park as there will be no traffic on the water.
Roberto Roy
Dubai,Philippines
Posted: February 16, 2009, 11:35

In our country in the Philippines, we used to maximise our river in order to help the commuters and minimise the traffic congestion. I think these projects are one of the best ways to ease the congestion of the city. I would love to ride the water taxi, especially to also watch the scenery around the city. I think people would prefer taking the water taxi because they will enjoy relaxing and sightseeing. It is a hassle-free way because you do not need to wait and you will not be stuck in the traffic.
Edwin Ibanez
Abu Dhabi,UAE
Posted: February 16, 2009, 10:27

This is going to completely ruin everything. We all in new Dubai have been suffering for the past three years with crazy traffic that doesn't allow us to do anything on time or even play an evening. Now we hear that it is going to be till the end of 2010? I think people will be rusted. I work in Media City and live in Bur Dubai, I don't think I will ever make it home! I will just be sitting in traffic. In this expansion plan, why doesn't Dubai also put up tents for people who really wouldn't want to go through traffic.
Jay Whabi
Dubai,UAE
Posted: February 16, 2009, 10:24

Well it is the starting of yet another project on the Shaikh Zayed Road, which is already congested despite the two tollgates. Now, it's going to be like pay the toll and wait in line.
Deepak
Dubai,UAE
Posted: February 16, 2009, 10:22

Marvelous Idea. I wish it would be completed by the end of this year to reduce traffic.
Mushtaq
Dubai,UAE
Posted: February 16, 2009, 09:48

This will only add to worries of people for nothing. No diversions will support the heavy Shaikh Zayed Road traffic flow. Why don't the authorities use water transport on existing water ways? Say from Binyas to DFC or along the main sea to Jumairah side?
Sheraz
Dubai,UAE
Posted: February 16, 2009, 09:16

The project is very impressive but Dubai is going to lose half of it's beautiful park!
Hamed
Dubai,UAE
Posted: February 16, 2009, 09:00

Very Good step. Should have an effective water-road transportation co-ordination. Should compliment each other and be cheaper since our traffic is due to staff transportation and cargo movements.
Ram
Dubai,UAE
Posted: February 16, 2009, 08:39