Dubai Unveils New High-Capacity Bridge

A new bridge will connect Bur Dubai with the Dubai Islands – with a capacity of 16,000 vehicles per hour.

Dubai's skyline and transportation network are once again on the brink of significant change: the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has announced a new, large-scale bridge is to be built over the Dubai Creek, linking Bur Dubai with the Dubai Islands area. The project not only advances the city’s transportation infrastructure but is an integral part of the 13-kilometer Al Shindagha Corridor Development Program, one of Dubai's most comprehensive road investments.

The bridge will stretch 1,425 meters, featuring four lanes in each direction, allowing the passage of 16,000 vehicles per hour. It will soar 18.5 meters above the Dubai Creek, ensuring a 75-meter wide navigational passage for smooth marine traffic under it.

The facility will not only ease vehicular traffic but also cater to pedestrians and cyclists with dedicated walkways and cycling paths, as well as elevators to assist crossing on both sides. Additionally, around 2,000 meters of surface roads will be constructed to connect this new bridge to the existing road network in Bur Dubai and the Dubai Islands area.

The Al Shindagha Corridor Project aims to enhance transportation between Dubai's historical and newly developing areas. The corridor extends 13 kilometers, affecting 15 major intersections and plays a significant role in connecting areas such as Deira, Bur Dubai, the Dubai Islands, Deira Waterfront, Dubai Maritime City, and Port Rashid.

The development is expected to ease travel for about one million people, with travel time projected to drop from 104 minutes to 16 minutes, resulting in an estimated savings of 45 billion dirhams over the next 20 years.

The newly announced bridge is not the first development in the region. In 2020, in collaboration with Dubai Holding, three separate bridges were completed between Dubai Islands and Al Khaleej Street, covering a total of 1.6 kilometers of road. These allowed for smoother traffic flow in northern and southern directions, significantly reducing congestion.

The RTA awarded the current new bridge project to Dubai Holding under a contract worth 786 million dirhams. This is part of a broader, 6 billion dirhams development collaboration affecting 15 districts in Dubai.

The project not only improves connectivity between Bur Dubai and Dubai Islands but also includes the following developments:

Jumeirah Village Circle (JVC): Four new entrances and exits with flyovers reducing travel time by 70%.

Dubai Production City: New bridges from Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road, reducing travel time by up to 50%.

Business Bay: Upgraded intersections and a pedestrian bridge on Al Khail Road, with 30% less internal traffic.

Palm Jumeirah: New acceleration and deceleration lanes with two new pedestrian bridges, saving 40% time.

Dubai International City (Phase 3): Widened entrances, new lanes, and junctions from Al Manama Street, cutting travel time from 15 to 5 minutes.

Dubai's transportation infrastructure is stepping up once more. This new bridge not only strengthens the connection between Bur Dubai and the Dubai Islands but is a core part of a complex, city-wide strategic development program.

Through the collaboration of RTA and Dubai Holding, modern, efficient transportation systems are being constructed to reduce congestion and create a sustainable, livable urban environment in the long term.

This new bridge is built not just of steel and concrete – but of vision as well.

(The article’s source is the official statement of the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA).)