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Dubai Smile / Al Ittihad Bridge
Coordinates25°14′55″N 55°19′32″E / 25.248694°N 55.325646°E / 25.248694; 55.325646
CarriesVehicles
CrossesDubai Creek
LocaleDubai, United Arab Emirates
Maintained byRoads and Transport Authority
Characteristics
DesignArch
Total length420 metres (1,380 ft)[1]
Width61.6 metres (202 ft)
Height100 metres (330 ft)
Clearance below15 metres (49 ft)
History
Construction endexpected 2017
Openedexpected 2018[1]
Location
Map

Al Ittihad Bridge is a proposed 12-lane bridge across Dubai Creek in Dubai. The Bridge will connect Bur Dubai from near the Dubai Courts and Dubai Creek Park and Deira near Deira City Centre and Dubai Golf Club. It will replace the current Floating Bridge.[2] Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai reviewed the project on 30 June 2013. The project cost is estimated to be Dh1.1 billion.[3] Contract for the construction is expected to be awarded by end of 2014[2] and construction works to be completed in 3 years.[4]

It will have 6 lanes and a footpath in both directions.[2] It will be 61.6 metres (202 ft) wide[2] and 15 metres (49 ft) high.[3] The arc above the bridge will be 100 metres (328 ft),[3] and the width of the waterway is 400 metres (1,312 ft).[5] The crossing can accommodate around 24,000 vehicles per hour.[citation needed] On the Bur Dubai side the bridge will also connect with a new underpass near Rashid Hospital, while on the Deira side it will be linked with Al Ittihad Road for motorists travelling to Sharjah.[5]

The project is scheduled for opening in early 2018.[1]

Timing

The Al Ittihad Bridge was originally announced on November 15, 2008 nicknamed Dubai Smile, and also referred to as Seventh Crossing.[6][7] The cost then estimated was Dh810 million and construction was originally expected to be complete by 2012.[8] Khaleej Times on 7 August 2012 reported that the Dubai Smile will be open for traffic in the middle of 2013.[9] This was later revised to late 2018,[10] since postponed.

It was announced on November 6, 2009 that the Floating Bridge will stay till 2014.[11] It is still in operation as of 2021.[citation needed]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c "Prequalification bids invited for new Dubai bridge". constructionweekonline.com. ITP Business Publishing Ltd. Jul 21, 2014. Retrieved 22 July 2014.
  2. ^ a b c d Staff Reporter. "12-lane Al Ittihad Bridge to replace Floating Bridge - Khaleej Times". Archived from the original on 2014-02-08. Retrieved 2014-02-09.
  3. ^ a b c Reporter, Shafaat Shahbandari, Staff (1 July 2013). "Al Ittihad Bridge construction to begin in Dubai next year".((cite web)): CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  4. ^ Staff Report (8 February 2014). "12-lane Al Ittihad Bridge to replace Floating Bridge; RTA approves Dh7 billion budget for 2014".
  5. ^ a b "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2014-05-12. Retrieved 2014-05-12.((cite web)): CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  6. ^ "The Dubai Smile is no bridge too far". The National. Retrieved 2018-09-07.
  7. ^ Zarooni, Mustafa Al. "Dubai Smile to replace Floating Bridge". www.khaleejtimes.com. Retrieved 2018-09-07.
  8. ^ "The Dubai Smile is no bridge too far". The National. Retrieved 9 February 2014.
  9. ^ "Dubai Smile to replace Floating Bridge". Khaleej Times. Retrieved 9 February 2014.
  10. ^ Deulgaonkar, Parag (2014-07-22). "Dubai's Al Ittihad Bridge to be ready by early 2018". Emirates 24|7. Retrieved 2018-05-28.
  11. ^ Reporter, Ashfaq Ahmed, Chief (6 November 2009). "Floating Bridge will stay till 2014".((cite web)): CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)

External links

Bridges and tunnels in Dubai
Dubai
Categories