Dubai receives bids for new creek crossing

30 March 2015

Bridge could be standard or iconic structure

  • Shindagha crossing will be standard bridge or iconic structure
  • New crossing was previously planned in 2007
  • RTA was planning to tender Ittihad Bridge this year

Dubai’s Roads & Transport Authority (RTA) has received proposals from consultants for the design of the Shindagha corridor scheme.

The project involves designing a new bridge across the entrance to the Dubai Creek, as well as road infrastructure, including a series of interchanges in Deira and Bur Dubai. Two proposals will be required for the bridge: a standard crossing; and an iconic structure. Firms participating in the tender expect the RTA to choose the iconic structure option.

A new Shindagha crossing has been designed before. In 2006, the RTA appointed Canada’s Cansult, now part of the US’ Aecom, to design two bridges crossing the creek, including one at Shindagha.

The RTA was planning to move forward with the construction of the new Ittihad Bridge, which will replace the existing Floating Bridge. It received expressions of interest (EoIs) from contractors last year and was due to hold a pre-bid meeting in January this year, but the meeting was cancelled.

The 2.7-kilometre-long crossing will be 22-52 metres wide and will extend beyond Al-Riyadh Road on the Bur Dubai side of the creek, and up to the Dubai-Sharjah Road on the Deira side. The main creek crossing will be a 420-metre-long span supporting 12 lanes of traffic. The bridge will be built in segments and will have a decorative steel arch. The consultant is the US’ Parsons.

In 2013, the RTA appointed Parsons to prepare plans for future road and transport projects in Dubai’s central business district, from the Sharjah border in the north to Port Rashid in the south and inland as far as Ras al-Khor.

That planning study incorporated four new creek crossings. These will comprise the sixth crossing, the Sheraton bridge, a permanent structure that will replace the existing Floating Bridge, and a new crossing in the Shindagha area. The study will also consider introducing new Salik toll gates to ease congestion in the area.

Stay informed with the latest in the Middle East
Download the MEED app today, available on Apple and Android devices

A MEED Subscription...

Subscribe or upgrade your current MEED.com package to support your strategic planning with the MENA region’s best source of business information. Proceed to our online shop below to find out more about the features in each package.