Dubai: Driving down Sheikh Zayed Road is going to get even more smooth from this week, as the final bridge is opened on Friday, October 30, as part of the World Trade Centre Roundabout Development Project.

The massive development project around the World Trade Centre intersection is going to help improve traffic flow around one of the key intersections in the city, which connects motorists to Sheikh Zayed Road as well as areas like the Dubai World Trade Centre, Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) and popular residential areas like Al Satwa, Al Karama, Al Jafiliya and Al Mankhool.

Here’s all you need to know about the final bridge that is scheduled to open as part of the project, and how the project is going to help motorists connect to major hubs around the city.

New bridge

The last bridge to open as part of the World Trade Centre Roundabout Development Project is a 1,000-metre long bridge, with two lanes, connecting Al Majlis Street in Zabeel towards 2nd December Street in the Al Jafiliya area.

The bridge can accommodate approximately 3,000 vehicles per hour, cutting travel time from Al Majlis Street to 2nd December Street from six minutes to one minute.

World Trade Centre Roundabout Development Project

The project around World Trade Centre included the construction of five bridges, with a combined length of 5,000 metres, at a cost of more than AED 696 million.

The project is also closely connected with another development project taking place around Al Mustaqbal Street in DIFC, which is scheduled for completion in 2027, with bridges, tunnels and road expansion expected to cut travel time by more than half – from 13 minutes to six minutes.

Five bridges

The Dubai World Trade Centre Roundabout Project involved the construction of five bridges at the intersection:

  • A 1,000-metre, two-lane bridge, connecting Sheikh Zayed Road to Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Street towards Deira. Bridge capacity: 3,000 vehicles per hour.
  • Two bridges connecting Sheikh Rashid Street with 2nd December Street, offering two lanes in each direction, with a combined length of 2,000 metres. Total capacity: 6,000 vehicles per hour.
  • Two bridges connecting Al Majlis Street with 2nd December Street, also providing two lanes in each direction, with a combined length of 2,000 metres. Total capacity: 6,000 vehicles per hour.

In all, the improvements around the intersection will benefit more than half a million residents and tourists, and reduce the wait at the Sheikh Zayed Road intersection from 12 minutes on average, to 90 seconds.