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28 March 2024

Dh3bn sixth creek-crossing announced

Published
By Staff Writer

A 12-lane sixth crossing of Dubai Creek is to be built at a cost of Dh3 billion, the Roads and Transport Authority has announced.

The crossing will be the world’s longest arch bridge and will cover a distance of 1.6 kilometres, linking Al Jaddaf in Bur Dubai with a road separating The Lagoon and Dubai Festival City The design has been endorsed by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.

The bridge, with a 205m-high, 607-metre long arch, will be able to carry more than 20,000 vehicles per hour in each direction. The Green Line of Dubai Metro will run across the centre of the upcoming bridge and a Metro and water transport station will also be constructed on the crossing.

“The sixth crossing is one of the biggest projects ever handled by RTA to address new property developments in the city. We are always trying to identify areas with a potential capacity problem as part of our strategies,” said Mattar Al Tayer, Executive Director and Board Chairman of RTA.

The contract for the project was awarded to American firm FXFOWLE. It won the tender following an open invitation. Construction begins in March and the project will be completed in six different phases over four years. It includes the construction of a 12km road networks and 22 intersections leading on and off of the span.

The bridge will help to serve developments such as Dubai Healthcare City, Sama Al Jaddaf and Culture Village on the Bur Dubai side, whereas in Deira it will serve Dubai Festival City, The Lagoons, International City and Dubai Design Centre.

Al Tayer said the sixth crossing will become an icon of Dubai, due to its distinctive design. Mirroring the Sydney Harbour Bridge in Australia, it will be built near the opera house, yet to be constructed by Sama Dubai on an island in the Creek.

Al Tayer did not rule out the possibility of the bridge being toll-controlled.