Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has inaugurated the fifth and final bridge of the Sheikh Rashid Road and Al Mina Street intersection development project, marking the completion of all phases of Al Shindagha Corridor Development Project in Bur Dubai.

The RTA said in a statement that the completed project ensures uninterrupted traffic flow from Al Garhoud Bridge towards Port Rashid, via Infinity Bridge, and onward to the Waterfront Market, and vice versa.

 The completed phases have reduced travel time along the corridor from 80 minutes to just 12 minutes. Traffic now moves seamlessly from Jumeirah Street to Infinity Bridge in just five minutes. Similarly, the trip from Infinity Bridge towards Al Mina Street and onto Al Wasl Road at its intersection with 2nd December Street now takes five minutes, said the statement.

The RTA is also progressing with Al Khaleej Street Tunnel project, which extends from the end of Infinity Bridge ramp in Deira to the intersection of Al Khaleej Street and Cairo Street. The 1,650-m tunnel will have three lanes in each. In parallel, the RTA has commenced construction of entry and exit points for Dubai Islands in the area between Infinity Bridge and Port Rashid redevelopment area.

Serving one million residents

Mattar Al Tayer, Director-General and Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of the RTA, said the project, spanning 13 km across key roads and involving 15 intersections and 18 km of bridges and tunnels, serves Deira and Bur Dubai, as well as major developments like Dubai Islands and Port Rashid, benefiting an estimated one million residents.

Al Tayer f said: “The corridor serves Deira and Bur Dubai, as well as several major development projects, including Dubai Islands, Dubai Waterfront, Dubai Maritime City, and Port Rashid. The total population served by the project is estimated at one million. The corridor’s development facilitates free-flowing traffic along the entire route, increasing capacity from 6,400 vehicles per hour to 24,000 vehicles per hour. It will also reduce travel time from 104 minutes to just 16 minutes by 2030, while enhancing road safety. The projected economic benefit from reduced travel time is valued at AED 45 billion over 20 years.”

Sheikh Rashid Road- Al Mina Street Intersection

The RTA has recently inaugurated the final bridge of the Sheikh Rashid Road and Al Mina Street intersection development project, comprising the construction of five bridges, with a total length of 3.1 km and a combined traffic capacity of approximately 19,400 vehicles per hour across all lanes.

Completed phases

The RTA has completed several key intersection upgrades along Al Shindagha Corridor in recent years. These included the opening of the intersection between Sheikh Rashid Road and Oud Metha Street and constructing a 700-m-long bridge comprising three lanes extending from Oud Metha Street (near Latifa Hospital) in the direction of Sheikh Rashid Road. It also included the development of the intersection between Sheikh Rashid Road and Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Street, which involved the construction of two bridges along Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Street, each with two lanes in both directions; a single-lane bridge connecting Za’abeel Street to Sheikh Rashid Road; and a tunnel along Sheikh Rashid Road leading to the intersection with Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah Street, featuring four lanes in each direction.

Falcon Intersection

The RTA has completed the intersection of Khalid Bin Al Waleed Road and Al Mina Street (Falcon Intersection), involving the construction of three bridges and a tunnel, with a total length of 2,575 m and a combined traffic capacity of 28,800 vehicles per hour.

The works included two major bridges along Al Khaleej Street, the first extending 750 m in the northbound direction, and the second 1,075 m southbound, each offering six lanes in both directions, with a total capacity of 24,000 vehicles per hour.

Additionally, the project included the construction of a one-lane bridge to accommodate right-turn traffic from Khalid Bin Al Waleed Road to Al Khaleej Street. This bridge spans 250 m and supports a capacity of 1,600 vehicles per hour. A two-lane tunnel was also constructed to serve left-turn traffic from Khalid Bin Al Waleed Road to Al Mina Street, measuring 500 metres in length and handling up to 3,200 vehicles per hour.

Infinity Bridge

The RTA has also completed the Infinity Bridge, a landmark structure that stands out for its iconic and innovative design, adding a distinctive feature to Dubai’s urban landscape. The bridge is crowned by a signature arch in the shape of the infinity symbol, rising 42 m above the deck.

Spanning 295 m in length, the bridge accommodates 12 lanes, in addition to a 3-m-wide dedicated cycling track. It has a total capacity of 24,000 vehicles per hour in both directions and stands 15.5 m above sea level. A 75-m-wide navigation channel beneath the bridge allows for the safe passage of various types of vessels into Dubai Creek.

The construction of the architectural arch alone required 2,400 tonnes of steel.  

Double-deck route

The double-deck route serves as an extension of Infinity Bridge, offering a seamless traffic flow from Bur Dubai across the bridge towards Deira along Al Corniche Street, adjacent to Deira Wharfage. It comprises six lanes in each direction, extending over 1,700 m. The route integrates with Al Khaleej Street to the north and includes the construction of surface roads with two lanes in each direction.  

Dubai Islands Access from Deira Side

The project also included the construction of five bridges providing direct entry and exit points to Dubai Islands at the intersection of Al Khaleej Street and Abu Bakr Al Siddiq Street. The total length of the bridges and associated ramps is 2,571 m, with a combined capacity of approximately 20,700 vehicles per hour.

Under construction

The Al Khaleej Street Tunnel project has reached approximately 30% completion. The tunnel extends from the end of the Infinity Bridge ramp in Deira to the intersection of Al Khaleej Street and Cairo Street, with a total length of 1,650 m. It comprises three lanes in each direction and is designed to accommodate up to 12,000 vehicles per hour in both directions.

Once complete, the tunnel will ensure smooth, free-flowing traffic between Infinity Bridge and Deira in both directions.

The project will serve several key areas, including Abu Hail, Al Wuheida, and Al Mamzar, in addition to major developments such as Dubai Islands, Dubai Waterfront, the Waterfront Market, and Al Hamriya Port.

Dubai Islands access from Bur Dubai 

The RTA has recently commenced work on a new project to provide direct access to Dubai Islands from Bur Dubai side. The project involves the construction of a bridge spanning Dubai Creek, located between Infinity Bridge and Port Rashid redevelopment area. Consisting of four lanes in each direction, the bridge will extend approximately 1,425 m with a total capacity of 16,000 vehicles per hour in both directions. Rising 18.5 m above the water level of Dubai Creek, the bridge includes a 75-m-wide navigation channel, allowing the safe passage of various types of vessels-TradeArabiaNews Service.