Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) is poised to open the new Al Wasl Street Bridge, which is part of the second phase of the Dubai Water Canal Project, on Friday.

The bridge consists of two lanes in each direction in addition to another lane serving the traffic coming from Al Wasl Street to Al Aathar Street. It passes over the canal at a height of 8 m, thus allowing free navigational traffic round-the-clock, said a statement from RTA.

The bridge will improve traffic flow on Al Wasl Street, and for vehicles coming from Jumeirah 1 towards Jumeirah 2, Jumeirah 3, Park Street and vice versa, it added.

Announcing the opening, Mattar Al Tayer, the director-general and chairman of the board of executive directors of RTA, said: "The traffic lights at the intersection of the Park Street with Al Wasl Street would be removed so that traffic moves smoothly on the bridges, and underneath along Al Wasl Street for vehicles coming from the Park Street heading right to Bur Dubai, Al Aathar Street and Jumeirah."

"After opening Al Wasl Street Bridge, the canal works underneath the bridges would be finalised, sub-roads and sidewalks would be opened, and all traffic diversions would be removed," he added.

Phase Two of the project involves the construction of bridges on Al Wasl and Jumeirah streets above the the canal, allowing 8-m-high yachts to pass underneath. It also includes the construction of an integrated multi-tier interchange connecting Al Wasl and Al Aathar streets, and the removal traffic signals therein, thus ensuring smoother traffic flow.

It also includes the construction of bridges connecting the proposed semi-island south of Jumeirah Park, besides shifting the utility lines via conduits passing underneath the canal, and constructing reserve utility conduits underneath the canal to satisfy future needs.

"As part of Phase Two contract last March, the RTA opened a bridge to ease traffic coming from Al Aathar Street towards the Park Street over Al Wasl Street. The bridge eased traffic for vehicles coming from Jumeirah Street and Al Aathar Street towards the Park Street and Sheikh Zayed Street," stated Al Tayer.

According to him, the completion rate of Jumeirah Street Bridge has reached 70 per cent and it is poised for completion by middle of next month, following the completion of all sub-road works, jogging track, sidewalks and subsequent services.

Meanwhile, the work on the Southern Bridge on Sheikh Zayed Street in the direction from Dubai to Abu Dhabi is progressing smoothly with more than 81 per cent project ready. The bridge is expected to open in July, he added.-TradeArabia News Service