Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has opened a new 1,210-meter bridge to improve traffic movement from Infinity Bridge through Al Mina Street to the intersection of Sheikh Rashid Road and Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Street.
This bridge, which features three lanes and can handle 4,800 vehicles per hour, is part of the larger Al Shindagha Corridor Improvement Project.
The project covers a 4.8 km stretch of Sheikh Rashid Road, extending from the intersection with Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Street to the Falcon Intersection on Al Mina Street.
This phase includes the construction of five bridges totaling 3.1 km in length, with the capacity to handle 19,400 vehicles per hour across all lanes.
Additional improvements from the project include the development of 4.8 km of road and upgrades to intersections on Jumeirah Street, Al Mina Street, and Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah Street.
The project also includes the construction of two pedestrian bridges, one on Sheikh Rashid Road and another on Al Mina Street.
Key Details:
New Bridge: 1,210 meters long, three lanes, 4,800 vehicles per hour.
Phase 4 of Al Shindagha Corridor Improvement Project: 4.8 km along Sheikh Rashid Road.
Additional Bridges: Five bridges in total, 3.1 km in length, supporting 19,400 vehicles per hour.
Other Features: Road improvements, upgraded intersections, two pedestrian bridges.
Mattar Al Tayer, Director General and Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of RTA, explained that the project is aligned with the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, and under the close follow-up of Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai. Al Tayer emphasized that the project aims to support urban growth and meet the demands of a growing population.
“The new bridge enhances traffic flow and facilitates movement from Infinity Bridge via Al Mina Street to Sheikh Rashid Road, improving connectivity to key areas such as Al Hudaiba, Al Raffa, Al Jafiliya, Al Mankhool, Al Kifaf, and Al Karama,” Al Tayer added.
Phase 4 of the project is nearly complete, with 90% of the work finished. The remaining two bridges are expected to open in the second quarter of this year. These two bridges include a 780-meter bridge with three lanes (4,800 vehicles per hour capacity) and a 985-meter bridge with two lanes (3,200 vehicles per hour capacity).
In December, RTA also opened a 1,335-meter bridge with three lanes, further improving traffic flow from Sheikh Rashid Road towards Infinity Bridge and Deira. Earlier this year, a 605-meter bridge with two lanes was inaugurated to ease traffic from Al Mina Street towards Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Street.
The Al Shindagha Corridor Improvement Project is one of RTA’s largest initiatives, aiming to connect Deira and Bur Dubai while supporting major developments such as Dubai Islands and Port Rashid. The project will benefit around one million residents by reducing travel time from 104 minutes to just 16 minutes by 2030. It is expected to deliver Dhs45 billion in economic benefits over the next 20 years while enhancing road safety and traffic efficiency.
tanvir@dubainewsweek.com
