Floating Bridge, Dubai
Floating Bridge (Arabic: الجسر العائم) is a pontoon bridge (floating bridge) in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. It connects Riyadh Road, Dubai Courts and Creek Park on the Bur Dubai side with Baniyas Road, Deira City Centre and the Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club on the Deira side. Floating Bridge is the fifth crossing on Dubai Creek. The others are Al Shindagha Tunnel, Al Maktoum Bridge, Al Garhoud Bridge and Business Bay Crossing. The bridge, which cost 155 million dirhams to build and has a capacity of 6,000 vehicles an hour, was opened on 16 July 2007 with much fanfare. Opening only two weeks after the implementation of Salik, people were glad to have a fourth free crossing across Dubai Creek.
Overview
The Floating Bridge came to reality due to the vision of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and the expertise of the Dubai Roads and Transport Authority (RTA).
Waagner biro Gulf (http://www.waagner-biro.com/en/divisions/gulf/about) a subsidiary of Waagner-Biro Stahlbau AG was contracted to build the first floating bridge in Dubai connecting the suburbs of Bur Dubai and Deira.With a total length of 365 metres and a width of 22 metres, the pontoon bridge features six lanes on two identical,mirrored decks spanning the entire Dubai Creek. For each direction an independent supporting structure has been constructed.The parallel structures were designed to accommodate three lanes and one footwalk each.Between the two floating pontoons made of concrete, each 115 metres long and 22 metres wide, a hydraulically driven rotating middle section made of steel is positioned to allow for undisturbed navigation.To compensate for differences in level as well as for transverse inclinations (heeling) and longitudinal displacements resulting from traffic loads and wave action acting on the ramp, another two rows of 28 transitory elements are installed between the floating pontoons and the transitory ramp on either bank. The structure so formed dynamically distributed energy from waves and pressure from vehicles across the length and breadth of the platform in such a way that they canceled each other out. 23 standard elements filled with highly resistant polystyrene plates serve as the actual floating body supporting several thousands of tons of the heavy bridge on water level.The bridge was assembled in day and night shifts in the record time of only 23 days.[1] Altogether the time for design, foundation works,bank installations, as well as manufacture and installation of the steel structures added up to merely 10 months. The construction of floating bridge was completed for a whopping 155 million dirhams (42 million USD)[2] and on 15 July 2007 a ceremony was held to officially open the floating bridge in the city of Dubai to traffic.
The bridge, which is part of the Dubai Roads and Transport Authority's strategy to ease traffic congestion in the emirate, is designed to accommodate an estimated 3,000 vehicles in each direction during peak morning and evening hours and hence reduce congestion on Al Maktoum Bridge by around 37%.
The bridge is open daily from 0600 (6 AM) to 2200 (10 PM). During off hours, the bridge is opened to allow boats to pass through.
Replacement
The floating bridge is a temporary crossing that will be replaced by a new bridge called Dubai Smile by 2012.
Image gallery
Construction of the Floating Bridge on 31 May 2007
http://www.waagner-biro.at/references//reference/floating-bridge-dubai/
References
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Floating Bridge, Dubai. |
- Floating bridge over Dubai Creek opens Gulf News (16 July 2007)
- Pontoon will ease Maktoum bridge traffic Gulf News (17 July 2007)
- Floating bridge completed in just 300 days Gulf News (20 July 2007)
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Coordinates: 25°14′55″N 55°19′35″E / 25.248733°N 55.326312°E