DUBAI // A bridge link to the recently announced Dh1.6 billion Bluewaters Island project opposite the Jumeirah Beach Residence coastline has been approved.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, has endorsed the Roads and Transport Authority’s plans for the bridge as well as a new bridge for International City. The two projects will cost about Dh700 million.
Entrance projects for Bluewaters Island comprises the construction of a bridge stretching from the island to the Jumeirah Lakes Towers Junction on Sheikh Zayed Road.
“The bridge will have two lanes in each direction in a 1.4km stretch and there will be lanes dedicated for the personal rapid transit system along with additional slipways at the junctions of Jumeirah Lakes, and a service road on the Sheikh Zayed Road leading to the island extending 1.5km,” said Mattar Al Tayer, chairman of the authority.
The authority will award the project’s construction contract in the second quarter of this year, and it will cost about Dh500 million.
The bridge will provide free movement for traffic inbound from Abu Dhabi on the Sheikh Zayed Road outbound to Bluewaters Island, traffic coming from Al Khail Road via Qarn Al Sabkha Road heading towards the island, and the traffic from the island heading to Dubai and Abu Dhabi through the Sheikh Zayed Road.
The island will host retail, residential, tourist and recreational facilities in addition to a bazaar and the world’s largest Ferris wheel. The island is expected to attract about three million visitors a year.
A monorail will take visitors from the Metro station to the festivities area, a footbridge will link the luxury island with the waterfront of Jumeirah Beach Residence, and a gondola cable car will shuttle visitors to and from the entertainment zone.
The International City entrances project extends from Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road to Nouakchott Road, north to south, and from Al Awir Road to Al Manama Road, east to west. Plans include building a flyover at the intersection of Al Awir Road and Nouakchott Road to provide a free left turn from Nouakchott Road to Al Awir Road in the direction of Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road, and a U-turn for vehicles moving out of International City towards Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road. This reduces more than 7 km of commute.
The project includes adding an extra lane to Al Awir Road to accommodate the entry point to International City without affecting traffic movement.
“This project is undertaken in collaboration with Nakheel, the master developer of the International City project, and in the light of the traffic impacts study for the International City and the Dragon Mart as well as the nearing completion of the Dragon Mart extension, which is anticipated to increase traffic congestions in the area,” said Mr Al Tayer.
Currently the main entry point on Al Awir Road gets congested during morning and evening peak times. Nouakchott Road will be converted to a dual carriageway, besides providing two additional entry and exit points for International City.
malkhan@thenational.ae
