The local/Australian Habtoor Leighton Group (HLG) has started mobilising for a contract to build the access bridge to Dubai’s Bluewaters island development.

Dubai’s Roads & Transport Authority (RTA) awarded the contractor the estimated AED500m ($136m) deal in March.

The project to upgrade interchange 5.5 in the Dubai Marina area is expected to take 900 days to complete. It involves building a 1.4-kilometre-long, 25 metre-wide flyover that will take road traffic from Sheikh Zayed Road on to the Bluewaters island. The bridge will also take a new rail link to the island from its terminal station on Sheikh Zayed Road opposite the existing Nakheel Harbour and Tower station. The other parts of the scheme include constructing ramps on to the bridge and service roads.

The consultant for the project is US-based Parsons International. The RTA is responsible for the delivery and management of the scheme. Local developer Meraas will provide the funding.

Meraas is also the developer of the Bluewaters island project. The scheme includes the AED1bn Dubai Eye, which will be the world’s largest Ferris wheel. Other components of the project involve building retail, residential, hospitality and entertainment zones.