Work on Creek extension to start within weeks

Dubai: Construction on the most crucial part of the Dubai Creek extension - from Business Bay off Shaikh Zayed Road to the Arabian Gulf - will start within weeks, according to a senior official.

Road diversions will be in place early next year on the busy Shaikh Zayed Road, next to the Metropolitan Hotel near the Second Interchange, for the construction of bridges for the 100-metre wide canal passage.

"Exact dates for massive road diversion plans for Shaikh Zayed, Al Wasl Road and Jumeirah Road, to pave way for the canal bridges, will be announced later," an official at the Dubai Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) told Gulf News.

Contract

The RTA on Saturday announced awarding of Dh758 million contract for the first phase of the Dubai Creek extension project to a Korean company, Sungwon Corporation.

The project involves extension of the Dubai Creek by 2.2km from Business Bay to the Arabian Gulf through Safa Park and Jumeirah. 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 used in public transport.

Some 10km of the total 12.2km extension work has already been completed in the 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, said.

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

The final length of the creek will be around 26.2 km with Bur Dubai becoming an island within the Dubai Creek ring.

Dubai Creek has been the life-line of the city as Dubai was initially built along the creek. "Extension of the Dubai Creek is the extension of development and life along the creek," said Al Tayer.