Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has officially opened a significant new bridge, improving traffic movement from Infinity Bridge through Al Mina Street to the intersection of Sheikh Rashid Road and Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Street. This new 1,210-metre bridge, featuring three lanes, can accommodate up to 4 800 vehicles per hour.

The inauguration of the bridge is part of the Al Shindagha Corridor Improvement Project, specifically Phase 4, which extends 4.8 km along Sheikh Rashid Road. This phase includes the construction of five bridges totaling 3.1 km, collectively capable of handling 19 400 vehicles per hour across all lanes. The project also involves the development of 4.8 km of road and enhancements to various surface intersections, including those on Jumeirah Street, Al Mina Street, and Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah Street. Furthermore, two pedestrian bridges are being constructed, one on Sheikh Rashid Road and another on Al Mina Street.

Mattar Al Tayer, the Director General and Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of RTA, emphasized that the project is being implemented under the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, and Ruler of Dubai. Al Tayer noted that the initiative aims to support urban development along the corridor while accommodating the demands of urban growth and population increase.

Al Tayer highlighted that the new bridge significantly improves traffic flow and connectivity to key residential and commercial areas, including Al Hudaiba, Al Raffa, Al Jafiliya, Al Mankhool, Al Kifaf, and Al Karama. He mentioned that 90 percent of Phase 4 of the project has been completed, with the remaining two bridges expected to open in the second quarter of this year. The first of these bridges spans 780 metres and has a capacity of 4 800 vehicles per hour, while the second bridge extends 985 metres with two lanes and a capacity of 3 200 vehicles per hour.

The Al Shindagha Corridor Improvement Project is one of RTA’s largest ongoing initiatives, spanning 13 kilometres and involving the development of 15 intersections. It aims to enhance connectivity between Deira and Bur Dubai while supporting major projects such as Dubai Islands and Port Rashid. Upon completion, this project is expected to benefit around one million residents by significantly reducing travel time from 104 minutes to just 16 minutes by 2030, while also enhancing road safety standards and delivering an estimated Dh45 billion in economic benefits over the next two decades.