Dubai’s Roads & Transport Authority (RTA) has received expressions of interest (EoIs) for construction work on a new bridge crossing the Dubai creek.

The RTA will now invite companies to prequalify for one or more contracts to complete the construction of the bridge ahead of issuing tenders in October.

Ittihad Bridge will replace the existing Floating Bridge. 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 works also include underpasses, ramps, interchanges, cut and cover tunnels, roadworks, utility diversions, landscaping, land reclaiming and bridge lighting.

The consultant is US-based Parsons International.

The bridge will link to Ittihad Road, which connects Dubai with the neighbouring emirate of Sharjah. The road was substantially upgraded between 2006 and 2009. The first phase of that work, which covered the improvement of 5.3km of road from Shoala junction at the northern edge of Dubai International airport to the Sharjah border, was completed by the local/Belgian Bel Hasa Six Construct.

The second phase, which ran from Shoala junction to the Garhoud Bridge project, was completed by the local/Cypriot National Wheel J&P. The US’ Aecom was the consultant for both packages.