Dubai's Al Maktoum Bridge to be partially closed on Fridays

The maintenance work will be carried out over five Fridays, from 1am to 9am

The Al Maktoum Bridge in Dubai will be closed for maintenance on Fridays, starting October 27, 2017.
It is one of five crossings on the creek and was the first bridge to open in Dubai, in 1963. 

The maintenance work will be carried out over five Fridays, from 1am to 9am, Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has now announced.

Marine traffic will be limited to Sundays and Thursdays between 1am and 5am.

Nazim Faisal, Director of Roads and Facilities Maintenance at RTA's Traffic and Roads Agency said: "RTA attaches great importance to maintaining assets and facilities by performing the required periodic preventive maintenance.

"The tentative operation would be undertaken after the completion of all routine, preventive and corrective maintenance of various electro-mechanical systems and a final inspection would be carried out to ensure the effective operation and safety of the facility and its users," added Faisal.

"During the closure of Al Maktoum Bridge, the traffic would be diverted to alternative routes including Al Shindagha Tunnel, Al Garhoud Bridge and the Business Bay Crossing, in addition to exit points of Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road. These arrangements would ensure a smooth traffic flow during the closure, taking into account the closure timing of the Floating Bridge. The RTA confirms that the alternative routes are capable of accommodating the traffic in the area on Fridays when traffic is significantly less compared to the other days," he concluded.

• Dubai