New Bridge over Dubai Creek

Called Dubai Smile, the design was approved on Sunday by His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.

Mattar Al Tayer, executive director of the Roads and Traffic Authority, said bridge could carry around 24,000 vehicles an hour, easing traffic across the creek, particularly in the area of Deira City Centre.

The width of the bridge would be 61.6 metres and the arch would rise up to 100 metres.

The bridge would accommodate around 24,000 vehicles per hour, which would boost the intake of vehicles from surrounding roads and ease traffic across the creek, particularly in the neighbouring area of Deira City Centre, Mattar Al Tayer, Chairman of the Board and Executive Director of the Roads and Traffic Authority (RTA), said on Sunday.

The crossing would allow free flow of traffic in all directions and full navigational traffic 24 hours a day as it rises 15 metres above the water level of the creek.

The width of the waterway is 400 metres, enabling large yachts to pass through, said Al Tayer.

In Bur Dubai, the 7^th Crossing will be linked with the underpasses of Rashid Hospital Project. From Deira side, it will be linked with Al Ittihad Road, which is currently being widened by the RTA at a cost of Dh800 million.

“Implementing this project comes under the context of the RTA strategy to keep pace with the urban development drive and to cater to the current as well as forecast requirements of demographic growth in the emirate, which is shaping into a cosmopolitan city.

“After all, it is a basic ingredient of RTA efforts to curb traffic congestion on roads of the emirate, Al Tayer said.

The sixth crossing linking Al Jaddaf and Business Bay was announced in February this year.

riyasbabu@khaleejtimes.com