New Garhoud Bridge inaugurated

New Garhoud Bridge inaugurated
Joy Sengupta (Staff Reporter)KHALEEJ TIMES 15 March 2008

DUBAI - The new Garhoud Bridge was officially inaugurated on March 15 by the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), giving the motorists a much-needed breather.

Shaikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, inaugurated the bridge which consists of 14 lanes, seven in each direction.

He also gave the green signal for the construction of the 6th Crossing over the Dubai Creek, which will be named Shaikh Rashid bin Saeed Crossing.

The implementation of this project is part of RTA strategy to keep pace with the urban growth and cater to the current and future requirements of development and demographic expansion through provision of roads network and advanced transport facilities.

By opening the new Al Garhoud Bridge, the number of lanes crossing Dubai Creek rises from 19 to 48. The new lanes are added following the completion of the 13-lane Business Bay Crossing, the six-lane Floating Bridge, widening of Al Maktoum Bridge from 9 to 11 lanes and opening the 14-lanes Al Garhoud Bridge.

Engineers engaged in the New Garhoud Bridge project were confronted with three main challenges: the first was to work within a marine habitat, a matter which required temporary construction of the bridge over pads containing giant waterproof containers. The second was to provide two marine navigational lines to allow for ships and boats passage across the Creek. The third challenge was to fix 12-metre-high pillars supporting the bridge and casting them as one lot within 48 hours by adopting an advanced method to avoid cracks resulting from high temperature levels.

The RTA also screened a documentary on Shaikh Rashid bin Saeed Crossing, which is one of biggest projects undertaken by the RTA. The bridge links Al Jaddaf at Bur Dubai with the road separating the Lagoons project and Dubai Festival City. It provides entry and exit points for the Creek Island on which Opera building will be constructed. The project will be constructed over four years and contains eye-catching pillars and distinctive beautiful arches adding architectural marvel to the Crossing, as well as a three-metre-wide pedestrian walkway.

Shaikh Maktoum was also briefed about the new crossing which will consist of 12 lanes, 6 in each direction. The Bridge will be 1600 metres long and 64 metres wide. The mega arch will rise 205 metres and will extend 667 metres. This will be the longest arched bridge in the world. The bridge will rise 15 metres above the sea level enabling free navigation 24 hours a day. The Green Line of Dubai Metro will pass across the median of the bridge.

Officials said that the Bridge will serve Dubai Healthcare City, Sama Al Jaddaf, and Culture Village at Bur Dubai, and Dubai Festival City, Lagoons Project, The Global City, and The Design Center at Deira.

It also contains a Dubai Metro and an Abra station.