Al Maktoum bridge expansion work completed

Al Maktoum Bridge was completely opened to traffic yesterday after the addition of a fifth lane in the Bur Dubai-Deira direction.

Matar Al Tayer, Assistant Director General of Roads and General Projects Department at Dubai Municipality, said the expansion of Al Maktoum Bridge is part of municipality's long-term plan to smoothen traffic movement in the emirate.

The bridge witnesses heavy traffic during peak hours.

Surveys carried out in November 2001 found that peak hour traffic was 8,000 vehicles per hour in the Deira-Bur Dubai direction (at 8am), while it was 8,500 vehicles per hour (1.30pm) in the opposite direction.

This represents more than the optimum capacity of the bridge.

With the expansion, the peak hour traffic handling capacity is enhanced to 10,000 vehicles per hour which is an increase of 25 per cent. This is calculated on the basis of the capacity of each track on the road which can accommodate 2,000 vehicles per hour.

He said the Dh2.1 million project also involved modifications to the mobile part of the bridge in order to ensure its safety during the opening and closing operations.

The works included expansion of the walkway over the fixed part of the bridge, removing part of the concrete structure, and relocating the traffic signals, the barricades, and the cables connected to the control room.

He said the additional lane was added by reducing the width of the bridge's pedestrian walkway from five metres to two metres, which is enough to meet the existing pedestrian movement on the bridge. Al Tayer said the project will improve safety, and traffic will move faster.