Floating Bridge الجسر العائم |
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Aerial view of the floating bridge
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Coordinates | 25°14′56″N 55°19′33″E / 25.2489°N 55.3259°ECoordinates: 25°14′56″N 55°19′33″E / 25.2489°N 55.3259°E |
Carries | Pedestrian and Vehicle |
Locale | Dubai, United Arab Emirates |
Characteristics | |
Design | Pontoon bridge |
Material | Concrete |
Trough construction | Steel |
Total length | 365 metres |
Width | 22 metres |
History | |
Constructed by | Waagner biro Gulf |
Construction cost | AED 155 million (42 million USD) |
Inaugurated | 15 July 2007 |
Opened | 16 July 2007 |
Closed | Expected in 2017 |
Floating Bridge (Arabic: الجسر العائم) is a pontoon bridge (floating bridge) located in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The bridge was built between Al Garhoud and Al Maktoum Bridges mainly to reduce traffic in Al Maktoum Bridge. The bridge connects across the intersection near Deira City Centre and Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club, and ends at the intersection to the Riyadh Street, between Dubai Courts and the Creek Park. The bridge opened on 16 July 2007 where the project cost 155 million dirhams to build and has the capacity of 6,000 vehicles an hour. The bridge also serve as an alternative route for Al Maktoum Bridge where Salik was recently implemented. The Floating Bridge is the fifth crossing on the Dubai Creek while the others are Al Shindagha Tunnel, Al Maktoum Bridge, Al Garhoud Bridge and Business Bay Crossing.
The Floating Bridge was one of the vision of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and the expertise of the Dubai Roads and Transport Authority (RTA).
Waagner biro Gulf a subsidiary of Waagner-Biro Stahlbau AG was awarded the contract to construct the floating bridge. The bridge comprise 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 pedestrian 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.