Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) said the work on the Bluewaters Island Access Bridges - opposite to the Jumeirah Beach Residences (JBR) - is progressing well with about 85 per cent of the project completed.

The project, which is undertaken by the RTA in conjunction with Meraas Holding Group at a cost of Dh475 million ($129 million), is likely to be completed by December.

"The project, which is nearing completion, aims to construct bridges leading to Bluewaters Island linked with the JBR Interchange 5.5 on the Sheikh Zayed Road. Bridges providing access to the island comprise a main bridge of two lanes in each direction stretching 1,400 m in length and 25 m in width," stated Mattar Al Tayer, the director-general and chairman of the board of executive directors at RTA.

"The bridges include two lanes 5.5 m in width designated for the planned automated personal rapid transit system to ease the mobility of visitors from and to the metro station (Nakheel Harbour & Tower) on the Sheikh Zayed Road nearby the Island," he explained.
 
"The project also includes the construction of ramps and a two-lane bridge from Dubai to the island, and a single-lane ramp from Al Khail Road to the island as well," stated Al Tayer.

According to him, the bridges would provide free movement for motorists inbound from Abu Dhabi on the Sheikh Zayed Road heading towards Bluewaters Island, and those inbound from Al Khail Road through Qarn Al Sabkha Street heading towards the island.

"It would also provide seamless traffic movement from the island to Dubai and Abu Dhabi via the Sheikh Zayed Road. Construction works also include road connections, lighting, bridges and other infrastructure works such as the shifting of impacted utility lines, as well as the construction of new ones for power, water, irrigation, sewage, and telecommunications, among others," he added.-TradeArabia News Service