New bridge to be built from Al Khail road to Financial Centre road

Dubai: A project for a new bridge, extending from Al Khail Road to the Financial Centre Road, was revealed by the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) on Saturday. The bridge, which will cost Dh120 million to build, is expected to be completed early 2017.

Mattar Al Tayer, Director-General and Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of the RTA, endorsed the awarding of the bridge project contract, in coordination with Emaar Properties.

“The project comprises the construction of a two-lane bridge linking Al Khail Road with the Financial Centre Road over a sector extending 920 metres in length, with a width ranging from 11 to 15 metres,” he said.

The bridge will be built on individual piers and pass across the Dubai Water Canal. The project also covers lighting and infrastructure works including the diversion of impacted utility lines such as water, electricity, irrigation, sewage and telecommunication lines.

“The project will start from the intersection of Ras Al Khor Road with Al Khail Road to ensure streamlined traffic flow,” Al Tayer said, adding that the existing road will be widened by adding two lanes in a sector stretching 480 metres in order to ensure seamless traffic movement from Dubai-Al Ain Road to Al Khail Road along the upper deck of the Financial Centre Road.

“It also includes adding an entry point to the parking terminal attached to the expansion of the Dubai Mall. The project will improve the traffic flow along the Financial Centre Road and at grade intersections by reducing the density of traffic at junctions leading to Mohammed Bin Rashid Boulevard. The project will result in raising the road intake to 4,500 vehicles per hour during peak hours, besides serving several development projects, and easing the pressure on the existing roads network,” Al Tayer said.

It is noteworthy that this bridge project is intended to accommodate the massive expansion undertaken by Emaar Properties of Dubai Mall, the world’s largest shopping and entertainment destination, so that it can receive more than 100 million visitors per annum. The expansion includes a department for fashion shops over and above the existing retail area, thus adding about 75,000 square metres to the Mall in addition to 25,000 square metres to the parking areas.