The Floating Bridge mystery

The RTA said the bridge was shut to undergo technical tests during peak hours.

Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has refused to comment on why it did not warn motorists that the new Floating Bridge would be closed on Wednesday during the morning rush hour.

The bridge was shut for two hours without any prior notification, causing major traffic congestion on roads in Deira and on Maktoum Bridge.

The RTA said that the bridge - which crosses Dubai Creek just south of Maktoum Bridge - was shut to undergo technical tests during peak hours, but suddenness of the closure and lack of prior announcement has sparked speculation that there may have been a fault with the bridge.

"The bridge was closed for about two hours as part of the contingency plan to conduct some technical experiments during the peak hours so as to ensure that the emergency system works effectively using the smart traffic systems," the RTA said in a statement, stressing that the bridge had not suffered any technical problems.

An RTA spokesperson told ArabianBusiness.com that an agreement was made between the emergency team at the authority and the contractor securing the project to carry out a test closure for the bridge after ten days of its launch.

The spokesperson said the RTA had no comment to make as to why it did not warn motorists about the closure.

The 300-metre long, six-lane Floating Bridge is designed ease traffic congestion on Dubai's other bridges and provide an alternative to commuters wanting to avoid the RTA's controversial Salik toll on Sheikh Zayed Road between Garhoud Bridge and Mall of the Emirates. It is open between 6.00am and 10.00pm.

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