Work on third bridge over the creek begins

According to Badr Al Gergawi, Head of Roads Construction Section at the Municipality's Roads Department, the first phase includes construction of the 10-lane and non-open span Ras Al Khor Bridge, and the digging of a tunnel on the intersection of Al Rabat Road and Marrakesh Road.

Works of the remaining three phases of the project are also scheduled to begin very soon and all works are expected to be completed by early 2007. The bridge, which is designed to ease traffic on Shaikh Zayed Road, Al Garhoud Bridge, Al Maktoum Bridge and the Shindagha Tunnel, will have five lanes in each direction, with the option of a sixth. Studies done on traffic movement on either side show major work is also required on several adjoining interchanges.

"It is expected that the project will alleviate traffic problems along Shaikh Zayed Road from the south to as far north as Sharjah," said Al Gergawi.

The structure will be 15 metres above the high-water mark, allowing ship movement in the creek without the need for a lifting span. "It will also provide an expressway to pass through Dubai to the northern emirates," he said.

The expansion of Rabat Road to six lanes in either direction - three of which will be dedicated to the expressway while the remaining three would be meant for internal traffic, construction of an intersection at Al Rabat Road and Nad Al Hamr Road, expansion of the Nad Al Hamr Road to a five-lane highway towards the North and four-lane highway towards the South - all the way to the Dubai International Airport Tunnel and the construction of access road for the Dubai Festival City on the Al Rabat Road, constitute the second phase of the corridor project.

The third and fourth phases cover a large area - from the First Interchange at Shaikh Zayed Road all the way to the new bridge at Ras Al Khor. Works in these two phases include the development of areas around the Doha Road and the proposed Burj Dubai areas, the Dubai Financial and Business City, and the Humanitarian City, designs for which were approved after the completion of traffic studies of these vital projects.

Other works in the final phase include the construction of an interchange to connect the Al Khail Road (the Back Road), Oud Metha Road and the Zabeel (2) area, and construction of roads to connect Shaikh Rashid Road and Riyadh Road to the Al Jaddaf area.