Construction

Dubai Islands-Bur Dubai bridge to be ready by 2026

By Pramod Kumar

September 14, 2023, 5:52 AM

Mattar Al Tayer, director general and chairman of RTA and Mohammed Al Shaibani, chairman of Nakheel signing the agreement

Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority has signed an agreement with state-owned Nakheel to construct direct entrances and exits from bridges to the Dubai Islands from Bur Dubai.

The Dubai Islands project will have entry and exit points on the Bur Dubai side through a bridge stretching across the Dubai Creek between the Infinity Bridge and the Port Rashid Development project, the Dubai Media Office said in a statement.

The bridge extends 1,425 metres, comprising four lanes in each direction with a total capacity of 16,000 vehicles per hour.

Rising 15.5 metres above the waters of Dubai Creek, the bridge will have a 75 metre-wide canal, allowing ships of various types to traverse the creek.

The project will have a dedicated lane for cyclists and pedestrians on one side of the bridge and two elevators at both ends.

It also includes the construction of surface roads extending 2,000 metres to connect with the existing roads from both ends of the Dubai Islands and Bur Dubai.

The project is set to be completed in 2026. The cost was not given.

Mattar Al Tayer, director general and chairman of the Roads and Transport Authority, said the project forms a key phase of the AED5.3 billion ($1.44 billion) Al Shindagha Corridor Improvement Project, consisting of 15 intersections spanning 13 kilometres.

Due to the massive scope, the project had been split into five phases. The corridor serves Deira and Bur Dubai, in addition to several development projects such as Dubai Islands, Dubai Seafront, Dubai Maritime City and Port Rashid.

“As such, it is expected to serve about one million people. It will slash the travel time from 104 minutes to just 16 minutes by 2030, and the time saved over 20 years will be worth about AED45 billion,” Al Tayer said.

Nakheel unveiled the masterplan for its 17-square-kilometre Dubai Islands development in August last year.

Previously known as Deira Islands, the project will be spread over five islands and will house more than 80 resorts and hotels, 20 kilometres of beaches, plus parks, open spaces and golf courses.