Dubai: Two new bridges transform travel for over a million residents
Major infrastructure upgrade enhances connectivity across key urban areas
The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has announced the opening of two new bridges in Dubai, marking a significant step forward in the city’s efforts to enhance connectivity and reduce travel time.
The infrastructure upgrades are expected to improve traffic flow for over a million residents.
Direct access to Mall of the Emirates
On Sunday, RTA opened a 300-metre single-lane bridge providing direct access to the Mall of the Emirates (MOE) from Sheikh Zayed Road. This upgrade, developed in collaboration with Majid Al Futtaim Holding, aims to ease traffic congestion and enhance motorist convenience.
According to Mattar Al Tayer, Director General of the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), this bridge offers seamless entry to MOE parking lots for motorists coming from Abu Dhabi and Jebel Ali. Enhancements also include widening the ramp at Umm Suqeim intersection and upgrading surface roads spanning 2.5km around the mall.
Additional improvements cover three signalised intersections, modifications to the bus station near the Mall of the Emirates Metro Station, and converting the street near Kempinski Hotel from one-way to two-way. Upgrades to pedestrian and cycling paths, lighting, and rainwater drainage systems are also part of the plan.
Khalifa Bin Barik, CEO of Majid Al Futtaim Asset Management, detailed that MOE offers five parking levels and multiple entry points. The new bridge ensures motorists from Abu Dhabi and Jebel Ali can avoid traffic-heavy roads, providing faster and easier access to the mall.
The Dh165 million project is part of RTA’s broader initiative to optimise road infrastructure in the city, marking another milestone in Dubai’s commitment to world-class connectivity.
Al Shindagha Corridor’s 2nd bridge
The RTA has also inaugurated the second bridge within Phase 4 of the Al Shindagha Corridor Improvement Project. Spanning 605 metres with two lanes, this bridge links the intersections of Al Mina Street and Sheikh Rashid Road with Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Street. It boasts a capacity of 3,200 vehicles per hour.
The first bridge under this phase, opened in December 2024, spans 1,335 metres and facilitates 4,800 vehicles per hour. Aimed at easing traffic flow, the Al Shindagha Corridor project includes four bridges totalling 3.1km, with an overall capacity of 19,400 vehicles per hour.
A 13km transformation
The Al Shindagha Corridor Improvement Project, one of Dubai’s largest infrastructure undertakings, spans 13km, connecting key roads like Sheikh Rashid Road, Al Mina Street, and Al Khaleej Street. It includes the development of 15 intersections, benefiting areas such as Deira, Bur Dubai, Dubai Islands, and Port Rashid.
Beyond road enhancements, the project integrates 4.8km of upgraded roads, two pedestrian bridges, and surface intersections with advanced traffic systems. By 2030, the initiative is expected to reduce travel time from 104 minutes to just 16 minutes, benefiting over one million residents and delivering Dh45 billion in economic savings over 20 years.
Upcoming bridges
Two additional bridges are scheduled for completion in the second quarter of 2025:
- A three-lane, 1,210-metre bridge for traffic from Al Mina Street to Sheikh Rashid Road.
- A three-lane, 780-metre bridge easing movement from Al Mina Street to Al Wasl Road.
Another two-lane bridge, spanning 985 metres, is expected in the third quarter of 2025. It will connect Jumeirah Street with Al Mina Street and the Falcon Intersection, accommodating 3,200 vehicles per hour.