Work begins on expanding Al Maktoum Bridge

DUBAI - Dubai Municipality has begun work of a Dh2.5 million project for expanding Al Maktoum Bridge by adding a fifth lane to the existing four lanes of the bridge in the Bur Dubai-Deira direction. The project will reduce traffic congestion on this route considerably.

By A Staff Reporter

Published: Thu 20 Feb 2003, 2:29 AM

Last updated: Thu 16 Nov 2023, 12:13 PM

Khalid Mohammed Al Marri, Head of the Roads Construction Section at the Roads Department of Dubai Municipality, said some diversions were introduced at the worksite since yesterday, but added that, "Diversion does not mean the reduction of the number of existing tracks. But, the width of the tracks has been reduced to pave way for enough space to carry out the works." He noted that the additional lane would be set up by reducing the width of the existing pedestrian walkway, which is not commonly used at present, from 5 metres to 2.1 meters.

Mr Al Marri said that the project involves expansion of the 150-metre-long walkway over the fixed part of the bridge, removing part of the concrete structure, and relocating the traffic signals, the barricades, and the cables connected to the control room. The works also include modifications to the moving part of the bridge in order to ensure its safety during the opening and closing operations. "The works will be carried out without disrupting normal traffic flow of vehicles on the road, as well as barges that pass through the creek," said Mr Al Marri, adding that the works will be over by May this year.

Al Maktoum Bridge, Mr Al Marri said, is one of the major road structures in the emirate. "However, the bridge currently witnesses heavy traffic, especially during peak hours, and traffic surveys carried out in November 2001, have pointed out that peak hour traffic (at 8am) on the bridge touches 8,000 vehicles per hour in the Deira-Bur Dubai direction, while in the opposite direction, it is 8,500 vehicles per hour (1.30pm). This represents 100 to 106 per cent of the usable capacity of the bridge. Moreover, short-distance vehicular movement on the bridge negatively affects its efficiency," he said.

Explaining the reduction in the width of the bridge's pedestrian walkway from 5 metres to 3 metres, Mr Al Marri said that a two-metre wide walkway is enough to meet the existing pedestrian movement.

He added that with the expansion of the bridge, the capacity of the bridge would be increased by 25 per cent, taking the current peak hour traffic from 8,000 vehicles per hour to 10,000 vehicles per hour. This is calculated, based on the capacity of each track on the road which can accommodate 2,000 vehicles per hour.