His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum approved the design of the seventh crossing (Dubai Smile) across Dubai Creek, reported the Emirates News Agency WAM.
The project, which has an iconic design at a cost of Dhs810m, is located near Dubai Creek Park, Wonderland Park and Dubai Courts at Bur Dubai, and Deira City Centre and Dubai Golf Club at Deira, a statement said.
RTA Chairman of the Board and Executive Director Matar Al-Tayer said: ‘The seventh Crossing ranks among the unique and landmark projects undertaken by the RTA, which aims to ease traffic flow across Dubai Creek. RTA is keen to turn out the seventh crossing into an iconic distinctive structure of Dubai worldwide.
Specialized global companies have been invited to compete in submitting distinctive aesthetic architectural designs, and the best one was selected based on specific technical criteria. Among the designs submitted, the concept of an inverted metal arch has been selected to replicate the high-rocketing urban development of Dubai to reflect the ambitions of the wise leadership of HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al-Maktoum, aspiring to a better future.
The engineering shape of the inverted arch of the crossing that links the two banks of Dubai Creek reflects a welcoming gesture by Dubai City to residents and visitors, beaming with beauty and simplicity and creating a good impression to onlookers.
‘The 7th Crossing, which is meant to supersede the existing Floating Bridge, costs about Dhs810m and consists of 12 lanes (6 lanes in each direction) and a footpath in each direction. The width of the bridge is about 61.6 meters and the arch rises 100 meters. The bridge can accommodate around 24 thousand vehicles per hour; a matter which will boost the intake of surrounding roads and ease traffic across the Creek, particularly in the neighbouring area of City Centre.
‘The Crossing provides free traffic to all directions and full navigational traffic 24 hours a day as it rises 15 meters above the water level of the Creek, and width of the waterway is 400 meters, enabling large yachts to pass through.
The underpasses converge forming a 4-lane underpass towards Al-Riyadh Road via Rashid Hospital. The junction of Al-Riyadh Road with the extension of the Floating Bridge will be transformed to a four-direction interchange. The Project also includes widening of Tariq bin Ziyad Road and improvements of Oud Maitha and Umm Harir Roads, as well as construction of a road to cater for the traffic inbound from the Floating Bridge towards Tariq bin Ziyad Road.
‘The project also includes upgrading the Airport Interchange through constructing a 4-lane underpass to serve the traffic inbound from Al-Garhoud Bridge towards Sharjah while maintaining the existing underpasses but re-routing them to serve the traffic inbound from Sharjah towards Al-Garhoud Bridge. A new bridge will also be constructed to serve the traffic inbound from Sharjah Al-Nahdah and Al-Mamzar towards Dubai International Airport in addition to another 2-lane bridge to serve traffic inbound from Port Saeed and Al-Garhoud areas towards the Clock R/A. HQ Interchange (Galaldari) will have two new underpasses in addition to the existing ones.
