KT Photo: Angel Tesorero

Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has announced that a new 610-metre, two-lane bridge connecting the intersection of Al Meydan Street and Ras Al Khor Street towards Deira will open on Sunday. This marks the fourth bridge to be completed as part of the extensive Al Khail Road Development Project, which includes the construction of 3,300-metre-long bridges and the widening of lanes extending over 6,820 metres.

As final preparations were being made on Saturday, Hamad Al Shehhi, director of RTA’s Traffic and Roads Agency, informed Khaleej Times: “The new bridge, set to open on October 13, will have the capacity to handle up to 3,200 vehicles per hour, linking traffic from Meydan Street to Al Khail Road towards Deira. Additionally, surface road enhancements have been implemented over 1,550 metres, facilitating traffic flow from Al Khail Road to Ras Al Khor Street.”

Another significant benefit of the new bridge is the elimination of weaving—the practice where motorists shift obliquely from one lane to another. With the new bridge, there will be dedicated lanes for those heading towards Deira and separate paths for those traveling to Ras Al Khor.

Al Shehhi highlighted that the Al Khail Road Development Project will increase the capacity of existing intersections and bridges by approximately 19,600 vehicles per hour, enhancing traffic flow along Al Khail Road, eliminating traffic overlaps at flyovers crossing Al Khail Road, ensuring smoother traffic flow, and reducing travel times by 30%.

“Al Khail Road is one of Dubai’s major highways, serving over 1.5 million residents and accommodating more than 300,000 vehicles daily,” he noted. The project will improve traffic flow across seven key areas along Al Khail Road, including Zaa’beel, Meydan, Al Quoz 1, Al Jaddaf, Ghadeer Al Tair, and Jumeirah Village Circle.

Al Shehhi also commended the rapid completion of the project, with bridges being finished in less than nine months. Three bridges have already been opened to the public, including one in Zaa’beel, connecting Al Khail Road to Financial Centre Street towards Sheikh Zayed Road; another in Al Quoz 1, linking Al Khail Road to Al Waha Street and Latifa Bint Hamdan Street; and the third between the intersections of Hessa and Al Khamila streets, serving the Jumeirah Village Circle community.

The final bridge, set to open next week, is located between Latifa interchange and Meydan interchange, completing the Al Khail Road Development Project.