The Dubai Road Transport Authority (DRTA) opened bids from two companies on 15 January for the new Garhoud bridge project.

The new crossing is one of four new bridges planned by the authority to ease congestion around the creek (MEED 2:12:05).

The local/Belgian Bel Hasa Six Construct submitted a low bid of AED415m ($113m) for the main contract and offered alternatives of AED402m, AED404m, and AED391m. The other bidder, the local Al-Masaood Contracting with Malaysia’s Gamuda, submitted a price of AED489m. Bin Hafeez General Contracting & Transport, Wade Adams Contracting, Darwish Engineering, all local, and the local/UK Dutco Balfour Beatty declined to bid.

The project involves the construction of two 520-metre-long single-span bridge decks crossing the creek to the east of the existing Garhoud bridge, which will be demolished once the new crossing is complete. The new bridge will be a seven-lane dual carriageway and will provide 15 metres of clearance for vessels on the creek.

The UK’s Halcrow is the design consultant. Two other new bridges across the creek are in the planning stages. The first bridge will link the Lagoon and Dubai Health Care City II projects, being developed by Dubai International Properties (DIP)as part of La Ville Contemporaire. A second new crossing, located near the Sheraton Hotel, is also planned between Maktoum bridge and the Shindagha tunnel. A third, the Ras al-Khor crossing, is under construction by Bel Hasa Six Construct (MEED 11:11:05).