Driver relief as RTA sets Garhoud Bridge opening date

Traffic jams have become part of life for frustrated Dubai commuters. (Getty Images)

To the relief of thousands of frustrated commuters, Dubai’s new Al Garhoud Bridge will open by March next year, the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) announced on Monday.

The RTA said construction of the 415 million dirham ($113 million) bridge, which will replace the existing Al Garhoud Bridge is now 76% complete, reported state news agency WAM.

“[The] new bridge will be opened by March 2008. It comes in a string of vital projects being executed to enhance traffic in emirate of Dubai,” said Metha bin Udai, Executive Director of the RTA, quoted WAM.

The opening of colossal 14-lane ‘superbridge’ cannot come soon enough for many drivers on Dubai’s overcrowded roads.

Al Garhoud Bridge leads directly onto Sheikh Zayed Road and is a major route for traffic coming from the city’s airport, and for commuters heading towards Dubai Media City (DMC) and Dubai Internet City (DIC), and the Jebel Ali Free Zone.

The bridge has historically been a major point of congestion for traffic in both directions, with jams lasting for hours during rush hour.

In an effort to solve the problem, the RTA placed one of the two gates that make up its Salik road toll on the bridge, with the other located on Sheikh Zayed Road opposite Mall of the Emirates.

This succeeded in cutting congestion on the bridge drastically, but consequently increased traffic on all other points across Dubai Creek and on all exits prior to the toll gate.

Many drivers are now complaining that areas of Dubai such as Deira and Bur Dubai are now impossible to get to during peak times because of all the cars trying to avoid the road toll.

This congestion has spread so much that even Al Garhoud Bridge has started to resemble its old self in recent weeks as traffic headed towards Deira gets backed over the bridge, all the way to the beginning of Sheikh Zayed Road.

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READERS' COMMENTS

New Garhoud Bridge
Posted by Lee, Dubai, UAE on Wednesday 26 September 2007 at 17:00 UAE time


Will Salic charges be applied to the new 14 lane bridge? With 14 lanes traffic should be diverted from Maktoum Bridge so maybe the RTA should add Salic to Maktoum Bridge and Garhoud Bridge becomes free?

Reduce Traffic in Dubai
Posted by Mohammad Al Salahi, Dubai, U.A.E on Wednesday 26 September 2007 at 10:00 UAE time

RTA should not allow cars with less than 4 passengers to pass during peak times.

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