Dubai's new 1,000-metre bridge slashes travel time by 80% (VIDEO)
RTA completes half of Dh689 million Hessa Street upgrade
Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has opened a transformative 1,000-metre bridge, part of the extensive Hessa Street development project.
This two-lane bridge links Hessa Street to Al Khail Road, reducing travel time from 15 minutes to just three minutes.
This pivotal infrastructure upgrade enhances connectivity between residential hubs and key destinations like Dubai’s city centre and Dubai International Airport.
Dubai’s new bridge
The Dh689 million Hessa Street development spans 4.5 km, covering four key intersections from Sheikh Zayed Road to Al Khail Road. With 54 percent of the project completed, the remaining intersections are scheduled to open by Q4 2025.
Mattar Al Tayer, Director General of the RTA, highlighted that this project reflects directives from Dubai’s leadership to cater to the Emirate’s continuous growth and urban expansion.
The project’s extensive scope includes widening Hessa Street from two lanes to four lanes in each direction, effectively doubling its capacity to handle up to 16,000 vehicles per hour.
Al Tayer explained, “Hessa Street serves strategic residential areas like Al Sufouh 2, Al Barsha, and Jumeirah Village Circle. By 2030, these areas will collectively house over 640,000 residents, making this development critical to their connectivity.”
4 intersections transformed
Sheikh Zayed Road Intersection: A two-lane directional ramp over the Dubai Metro’s Red Line facilitates right-turn traffic onto Hessa Street, heading east toward Emirates Road.
First Al Khail Road: Enhancements include expanding the existing bridge to four lanes in each direction and upgrading the signalised junction for improved flow.
Asayel Street: The current bridge will also widen to four lanes, with updates to the surface-level intersection ensuring smoother traffic movement.
Al Khail Road: A direct two-lane ramp enables seamless traffic from Hessa Street northward to Sharjah.
Cycling and e-Scooter tracks
Sustainability takes centre stage with a 13.5 km network of cycling and e-scooter tracks. These tracks stretch from Al Sufouh to Dubai Hills, connecting residential areas like Al Barsha and Barsha Heights.
The new infrastructure improves first and last-mile connectivity, linking key metro stations such as Dubai Internet City to nearby commercial and service hubs.
Two architecturally unique bridges enhance the cycling experience, crossing Sheikh Zayed Road and Al Khail Road. Each bridge is five metres wide, with designated lanes for cyclists and pedestrians.
Capable of accommodating up to 5,200 users per hour, these bridges reflect Dubai’s focus on sustainable urban mobility.