WATCH: RTA to open Abu Dhabi-bound Southern bridge of Sheikh Zayed Road

Dubai - The bridge comprises eight lanes (six lanes will be open in the initial phase and the remaining two lanes will be open in mid-July 2016).

The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) will open this Friday the Abu Dhabi-bound southern bridge on the Sheikh Zayed Road as part of the initial phase of the Dubai Water Canal Project. The bridge comprises eight lanes (six lanes will be open in the initial phase and the remaining two lanes will be open in mid-July 2016). It rises 8.5 meters above the water level allowing free navigation in the Canal around-the-clock.

Mattar Al Tayer, Director-General and Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of 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."
"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," explained Al Tayer.
"Earlier this month, RTA opened Al Wasl Road Bridge comprising three lanes in the direction of Dubai and two lanes in the direction of Abu Dhabi in addition to two lanes for serving the traffic coming from Al Wasl Road heading 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 & 3 as well as Al Hadiqa Road and vice versa. Accordingly about 50 thousand vehicles now use the bridge every day. Last March, RTA opened Phase II of the project with the completion of a bridge serving traffic inbound from Al Athaar Road and bound to Al Hadiqa Road across Al Wasl Road. Since opened, it had eased the movement of motorists from Jumeirah Road and Al Athaar Road in the direction of Al Hadiqa Road and Sheikh Zayed Road.
"Work is gathering pace for the Jumeirah Bridge where the contractor is currently putting the finishing touches to the project, which will be open in July. Once the three bridges crossing the Canal are open, the contractor of Phase III will complete the Canal digging works underneath the bridges, besides building quay walls of the Canal, constructing three footbridges linking the two banks of the Canal at distinctive locations, and setting up 10 marine transit stations. Jobs also include landfilling works to build a synthetic peninsula along the Jumeirah Park that will double the beach line of the Park, increase the park area, and make a room for more leisure activities.