The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has invited contractors to bid for the Infinity Bridge crossing Dubai Creek.

The RTA has set a tender closing date for the Infinity Bridge of December 26. Contractors submitted prequalification documents in October.

The RTA held an industry briefing for the Infinity Bridge section of the Shindagha Corridor Scheme earlier this year. Potential bidders that normally work for the RTA on road projects in Dubai and international players that specialise in the construction of bridges attended the briefing.

Dubai wants the Infinity Bridge to be another architectural landmark for for the emirate. It will be a box girder bridge with a decorative Infinity arch that offers minimal structural functionality. The bridge will have a total length of about 300 metres with 15 metres of clearance above the waters of the Creek. It is expected that it will take 24 months to build.

The Infinity Bridge will be built near to the mouth of the Creek. It is part of the larger Shindagha Corridor scheme that runs through Bur Dubai and Deira.

Deira Islands

The RTA has also tendered a contract for the construction of roads connecting to Nakheel’s Deira Islands development. The closing date for that tender is 4 January.

The US’ Parsons is the consultant for the Shindagha Corridor scheme and the Infinity Bridge.

the RTA awarded the first section of the Shindagha Corridor scheme in early 2016. The local Wade Adams Contracting won a AED611m ($166m) contract to upgrade Sana junction. It is located in Karama next to Zabeel Park on the road leading from World Trade Centre to BurJuman mall.

Al-Khail Road

The RTA is tendering another bridge construction contract. In November it invited contractors to submit bids by 21 December for the construction of a bridge on Al-Khail Road.

Once completed, Al-Khail Road will bridge a section of canal linking the Dubai Water Canal or Dubai Creek Extension with a waterway that will run through the Meydan development.

The works involve the construction of road bridges together with excavation and marine works for the waterway.

The consultant is US-based Aecom.

The Al-Khail Road scheme is similar to works completed as separate packages on Sheikh Zayed Road in 2016 for the Dubai Water Canal.  Turkey’s Mapa Gunal was the contractor for the bridge the local/Belgian Belhasa Six Construct was the contractor for the excavation and marine works.

Beijing-based China State Construction Engineering Corporation was the contractor for the bridges taking Al-Wasl Road and Jumeirah Beach Road across the Dubai Canal.

Dubai is planning another major bridge project that could be tendered in 2018. Earlier this year the RTA appointed Parsons for the design of a crossing that will bridge the waterway in the Ras al-Khor area. It will provide access to the Dubai Creek Harbour development from the Oud Metha/Jadaf area.

The RTA has been one of the most active clients for construction companies in Dubai during 2017. The RTA  awarded $1.45bn of contracts this year, according to regional projects tracker MEED Projects. Overall, the agency has $5.57bn of ongoing projects in Dubai.