Dubai Business Bay Crossing Bridge

From Bur Dubai to Deira Ease the Commute for Locals

Mar 17, 2007 Frank W. Hardy

Rapid growth in all areas of Dubai living has seen traffic problems not imaginable 5 years ago.

The Business Bay Crossing Bridge recently opened another avenue for commuters to cross the creek from Bur Dubai to Deira. Located south of the Garhoud Bridge, 6 of the planned 13 lanes of the bridge, opened on Tuesday the 13th of March 2007 to the joy of both north- and southbound commuters. Becoming the fourth connecting artery between the two areas of Dubai (Garhoud and Maktoum Bridges and the Al Shindagha Tunnel) the Bay Crossing Bridge was completed in record time.

The bridge will provide greater access for those residents using Emirates Road (311) as well as those living East of the City in communities like Mirdif and Festival City. Future plans call for the entrance, from Doha Road, to be a Double Deck Road for even easier access to the bridge.

The government of Dubai plans other rapid expansions for travel throughout the city. Under construction is an increase of the 6 lanes to 13 lanes on the Garhoud Bridge. Two new bridges: one floating 6 lane bridge and one 12 lane “Fifth Bridge.” The Al Shindagha Tunnel will also expand from the current 4 lanes to 12 lanes later in the decade.

The completed “Airport Tunnel” has already relieved considerable traffic on Emirates and the Dubai-Sharjah Roads by cutting the distance between Terminal Two and Terminal One at the Dubai International Airport in half.

The city is expanding rapidly and all understand that the greatest need is for more arteries to and from the various points. With the city expanding in all directions, the problems facing the Transport Ministry is multifaceted. The question on which direction to go is a continuing problem for the government.

The last few years has seen Sheik Zayed Road increase from 4 lanes south of interchange 2 to the current 8-10 lanes out to Emirates Mall and Ski Dubai. The eventual increase in lanes will expand to 12 lanes out to the Palm Jumeirah Exit and ultimately out to Jebel Ali. Furthermore, phase one of the Dubai Light Rail Transit System (LRT) should be completed by 2009.

Highway 611, the Dubai Bypass Road, has already decreased time for commuters in southern communities but is also under pressure by the ever increasing traffic from both the south and north. The government must consider the need for north-south traffic to connect with the established central parts of Dubai which means as yet unplanned roads.

While all this news is encouraging the transportation system is still insufficient. “The annual growth rate of vehicles in Dubai is currently 12 per cent and the growth pattern is likely to continue. It is expected that Dubai’s population will reach four million in 2020, while the number of trips is expected to go up to a staggering 13.1 million trips per day.”

The copyright of the article Dubai Business Bay Crossing Bridge in Middle East Travel is owned by Frank W. Hardy. Permission to republish Dubai Business Bay Crossing Bridge in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.