Two new bridges in Dubai to cut travel time from 10 minutes to just 2 minutes

Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) today, Sunday, opened two bridges as part of the Trade Centre Roundabout Development Project. The bridges serve traffic movement from 2nd December Street towards Sheikh Rashid Road and Al Majlis Street, which connects to Al Mustaqbal Street. Each bridge provides two lanes in both directions, with a combined length of 2,000 metres and a total capacity of approximately 6,000 vehicles per hour.

The two bridges were opened ahead of the scheduled date in mid-January. They will enhance traffic flow from 2nd December Street towards Sheikh Rashid Road and Al Majlis Street and reduce journey time from 2nd December Street to Al Majlis Street, Al Mustaqbal Street, and Zabeel Palace Street from 10 minutes to just 2 minutes, besides easing traffic density at the Trade Centre Roundabout.

Mattar Al Tayer, Director General, Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of the Roads and Transport Authority, said: “Trade Centre Roundabout is one of the major intersections in Dubai, linking Sheikh Zayed Road with five vital streets: Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Street, Sheikh Rashid Road, 2nd December Street, Zabeel Palace Street, and Al Majlis Street.”

“The project, with a total cost exceeding Dhs696 million, includes the construction of five bridges with a combined length of 5,000 metres, in addition to converting the existing roundabout into an at-grade intersection. The project enhances traffic flow from Sheikh Zayed Road towards 2nd December Street, as well as traffic movement from Al Mustaqbal Street towards Sheikh Zayed Road in the southbound direction,” Al Tayer noted.

“It also provides free-flow traffic movement from 2nd December Street in Jumeirah and Al Satwa to Al Majlis Street towards Al Mustaqbal Street, serving Dubai World Trade Centre and Dubai International Financial Centre, as well as from Sheikh Rashid Road towards Deira. In addition, the project ensures free-flow movement via a second-level bridge from Sheikh Zayed Road towards Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Street.”

He added: “Work on the project is progressing at a pace faster than the approved schedule, reflecting RTA’s commitment to facilitating residents’ mobility. Overall project completion has reached nearly 50% and will initiate a phased opening.”

“In addition to the two bridges already opened to traffic, March will mark the opening of the bridge linking Sheikh Zayed Road to Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Street. Two further bridges are set to open in October 2026, serving traffic movement from Sheikh Rashid Road and Al Majlis Street towards 2nd December Street.”

Al Tayer concluded: “Upon completion, the project will reduce average delay at the intersection from 12 minutes to 90 seconds and cut journey time for traffic heading from Sheikh Zayed Road to Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Street from six minutes to just one minute.”

Five Bridges

The five bridges under construction will enable free-flow traffic movement in multiple directions. The project includes a second-level bridge with two lanes extending from Sheikh Zayed Road to Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Street towards Deira. This bridge is 1,000 metres long and has a capacity of approximately 3,000 vehicles per hour.

The project also comprises two bridges with two lanes in both directions linking Sheikh Rashid Road with 2nd December Street. These bridges have a combined length of 2,000 metres and a total capacity of around 6,000 vehicles per hour.

In addition, the project includes two bridges with two lanes in both directions extending from Al Majlis Street to 2nd December Street, providing a direct link between Al Mustaqbal Street and 2nd December Street. These bridges have a combined length of 2,000 metres and a total capacity of approximately 6,000 vehicles per hour.

The project serves a wide range of commercial, residential, and development areas, most notably Dubai World Trade Centre, which has been the region’s largest international events and exhibitions venue for more than four decades and hosts major global exhibitions and conferences such as GITEX, Arabian Travel Market, Arab Health Exhibition and Congress, and Gulfood, among others. The project also serves Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), a leading financial hub in the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia, in addition to communities such as Zabeel, Al Satwa, Al Karama, Al Jafiliya, Al Mankhool, and others. The number of beneficiaries is estimated at more than half a million residents and visitors.

Al Mustaqbal Street

The Trade Centre Roundabout Development Project forms part of a master plan that also includes the development of Al Mustaqbal Street, extending from its intersection with Zabeel Palace Street to Financial Centre Street. The project is scheduled for completion in 2027.

The plan includes the construction of bridges and tunnels with a combined length of 1,500 metres, as well as the widening of Al Mustaqbal Street from three to four lanes in each direction. These works will increase the street’s capacity from 9,000 vehicles per hour to 12,000 vehicles per hour, representing a 33% increase, and reduce journey time from eight minutes to three minutes and 30 seconds.

The scope also covers the construction of three tunnels with a total length of 1,100 metres at the intersection of Al Mustaqbal Street with Trade Centre Street, in addition to a 400-metre bridge with two lanes serving traffic from Dubai World Trade Centre towards the intersection of Zabeel Palace Street and Al Mustaqbal Street.

 The plan also encompasses the widening of Al Mustaqbal Street from its intersection with Financial Centre Street to its intersection with Zabeel Palace Street over a length of 3,500 metres, increasing the number of lanes from three to four in each direction. The works also include the construction of free-flow ramps to improve traffic movement at the intersections of Al Mustaqbal Street with Exhibition Street and Trade Centre Street, implementation of a pedestrian bridge on Al Sukook Street, and upgrading of existing intersections along the corridor.