The Board of Executive Directors of Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), chaired by HE Mattar Al Tayer, Director-General and Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors and in coordination with Emaar Properties, has endorsed the awarding of a contract of a bridge project extending from Al Khail Road to the Financial Center Road. The project, which has a cost tag of AED120m, is expected to be completed early 2017.
“The project comprises the construction of a two-lane bridge linking Al Khail Road with the Financial Center Road over a sector extending 920 meters in length with a width ranging from 11 to 15 meters. The bridge would be built on individual piers and pass across the Dubai Water Canal. The project also covers lighting and infrastructural works including the diversion of impacted utility lines such as water, electricity, irrigation, sewage and telecommunication lines,” said Al Tayer.
“The project starts from the intersection of Ras Al Khor Rd with Al Khail Rd to ensure streamlined traffic flow. The existing road would be widened by adding two lanes in a sector stretching 480 metres in order to ensure a seamless traffic movement from Dubai-Al Ain Road to Al Khail Road along the upper deck of the Financial Center Road. It also includes adding an entry point to the parking terminal attached to the expansion of the Dubai Mall. The project would improve the traffic flow along the Financial Center Rd and at-grade intersections by reducing the density of traffic at junctions leading to Mohammed bin Rashid Boulevard. The project would result in raising the road intake to 4500 vehicles per hour during peak hours, besides serving several development projects, and easing the pressure on the existing roads network,” he further added.
It is noteworthy that this bridge project is intended to accommodate the massive expansion undertaken by Emaar Properties of Dubai Mall, the world’s largest shopping and entertainment destination such that it can receive more than 100 million visitors per annum. The expansion includes a department for fashion shops over and above the existing retail area, thus adding about 75 thousand square metres to the Mall in addition to 25 thousand square metres to the parking areas.