Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) is set to open a 500-m-long two-lane bridge tomorrow (August 14) that will link traffic from Dubai World Trade Centre and One Central to Al Mustaqbal Street.
Announcing this, RTA said the new bridge is a part of the AED633 million ($172.4 million) Al Mustaqbal Street Development Project, and includes about 2,000m of bridges and tunnels, as well as a pedestrian bridge on Al Sukook Street.
Three tunnels spanning 1,500m at the intersection of Al Mustaqbal Street and Trade Centre Street are due to open in February 2027, it stated.
The first will be a three-lane tunnel towards Deira with capacity for 4,500 vehicles per hour. A second, two-lane tunnel will provide left-turn movements between Al Mustaqbal Street and Trade Centre Street, while a third, one-lane tunnel will serve One Central.
According to RTA, the new bridge will help cut travel time from the World Trade Centre to the street from about 10 minutes to two minutes during major events.
The wider project, which extends from Za'abeel Palace Street to Financial Centre Street, will expand Al Mustaqbal Street from three to four lanes in each direction and increase capacity by 33% to 8,800 vehicles per hour in both directions. The project is expected to reduce journey times along the street from 13 minutes to six minutes, it added.
Mattar Al Tayer, Director General, Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of RTA, said the Al Mustaqbal Street Development Project forms part of an integrated scheme that also involves upgrading the World Trade Centre Roundabout, where works are progressing rapidly, and completion has exceeded 85%.
"With several bridges already opened, RTA is set to open another bridge by the end of August to serve traffic coming from Sheikh Rashid Road towards 2nd December Street. In October, RTA will open the project’s final bridge, which will serve traffic coming from Al Majlis Street towards 2nd December Street," he stated.
"Beyond improving traffic efficiency, the project will enhance access to key financial, business and events destinations, support investment, trade and tourism flows, and strengthen the area’s readiness to keep pace with economic growth and host major global events," he noted.
"This will enhance Dubai’s competitiveness and appeal as a global business and financial hub, while emphasising the role of roads and transport infrastructure in supporting economy and development," he added.-TradeArabia News Service