An Abu Dhabi-bound bridge on Sheikh Zayed Road is due to open on Friday, the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has confirmed.
The 8.5-metre high bridge is part of road works to accommodate the new Dubai Water Canal project, which will flow under the highway.
The northern bridge opened earlier this year.
On the south-bound side, six lanes will initially open, with an extra two added a few weeks later, the RTA said.
“By opening the southern bridge, RTA has effectively completed all works listed under Phase I of the Dubai Water Canal Project, which comprises the construction of an 800 meter-long bridge on the Sheikh Zayed Road comprising 8 lanes in each direction. It also includes modifying the route of affected roads to ensure integrated traffic movement between the two sides of the Canal besides shifting the affected utility lines,” RTA director general Mattar Al Tayer said in a statement.
“This bridge is characterized by a unique design with waterfalls flowing from the top, and smart lighting fixtures controlled via a dedicated app supported by a database for tracking the lighting condition, and sharing information & operational commands. A full coverage is provided all over the place enabling RTA to interact with the social media through 3G technology.”
The Al Wasl Road Bridge also opened earlier this month. The road includes three lanes heading north and two heading south, as well as allowing traffic from Al Wasl Road to connect to Al Athaar Road.
“The traffic flow on the bridge has improved massively, thus facilitating the movement of motorists from Jumeirah 1 to Jumeirah 2 and 3, as well as Al Hadiqa Road and vice versa,” Al Tayer claimed.
“Accordingly, about 50,000 vehicles now use the bridge every day.”
Al Tayer said work also was gathering pace for the Jumeirah Bridge, where the contractor is currently putting the finishing touches to the project, which should open in July.
When the three bridges crossing the canal are open, the contractor for phase three will complete the canal digging works underneath the bridges, as well as build quay walls, construct three footbridges linking the two banks of the canal and set up 10 marine transit stations.
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