A bridge project by Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority and developer Emaar is due for completion in January, according to a statement carried by UAE state news agency WAM.

The contractor is currently putting the final touches on the bridge extending from Al Khail Road to the Financial Center Road, said Mattar Al Tayer, director-general and chairman of the RTA.

“The project encompasses the construction of a two-lane one-way bridge extending 1,270 meters at a width of 11 to 15 meters built on single columns crossing over the Dubai Water Canal. The project works include lighting and infrastructure works such as the shifting the impacted utility services like water, electricity, irrigation, sewage and telecommunication lines,” said Al Tayer.

“The bridge, which starts from the intersection of Ras Al Khor Road-Al Khail Road, encompasses adding two lanes extending 480 meters to the existing road to enable direct flow of traffic from Dubai-Al Ain Road to Al Khail Road via the upper deck of the Financial Center Road. Works include providing an entry point for the parking terminal of the extension of Dubai Mall. The project will ease the flow of traffic along the Financial Center Road and surface intersections, thus easing the pressure on the intersections of Mohammed bin Rashid Boulevards. It will raise the capacity of the road to 4,500 vehicles per hour during (peak) hours, serve several development projects and ease the pressure on the existing roads network.

“The construction of the said bridge is intended to accommodate the massive expansion of Dubai Mall undertaken by Emaar Properties rendering it the largest shopping and entertainment destination in the world capable of receiving more than 100 million visitors per annum. Expansion works of the Mall include constructing a department for fashion besides the existing mall, which adds 75 thousand square meters to the mall area in addition to 25 thousand square meters as parking spaces.”