Floating Bridge, Dubai
Encyclopedia
Floating Bridge 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.
and the expertise of the Dubai Roads and Transport Authority (RTA).
Waagner-Biro Gulf 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. 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) 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.
by 2012.
http://archive.gulfnews.com/articles/08/11/17/10260200.html
http://www.waagner-biro.at/references//reference/floating-bridge-dubai/
Pontoon bridge
A pontoon bridge or floating bridge is a bridge that floats on water and in which barge- or boat-like pontoons support the bridge deck and its dynamic loads. While pontoon bridges are usually temporary structures, some are used for long periods of time...
(floating bridge) in Dubai
Dubai
Dubai is a city and emirate in the United Arab Emirates . The emirate is located south of the Persian Gulf on the Arabian Peninsula and has the largest population with the second-largest land territory by area of all the emirates, after Abu Dhabi...
, United Arab Emirates
United Arab Emirates
The United Arab Emirates, abbreviated as the UAE, or shortened to "the Emirates", is a state situated in the southeast of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia on the Persian Gulf, bordering Oman, and Saudi Arabia, and sharing sea borders with Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, and Iran.The UAE is a...
. It connects Riyadh Road, Dubai Courts and Creek Park on the Bur Dubai
Bur Dubai
Bur Dubai is a historic district in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, located on the western side of the Dubai Creek. The name literally translates to Mainland Dubai, a reference to the traditional separation of the Bur Dubai area from Deira by the Dubai Creek...
side with Baniyas Road, Deira City Centre and the Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club on the Deira
Deira, Dubai
Deira is an area in the city of Dubai, United Arab Emirates bordered by the Persian Gulf, Sharjah and Dubai Creek. Historically, it has been the center of Dubai, but has been losing its importance during the past few decades due to recent development along E 11 road and areas further down the...
side. Floating Bridge is the fifth crossing on Dubai Creek
Dubai Creek
Dubai Creek or Khor Dubai is a saltwater creek located in Dubai, United Arab Emirates . It ends at Ras Al Khor Wildlife Sanctuary. Some sources say that the creek extended as far inland as Al Ain, and that the Ancient Greeks called it River Zara. Historically, the creek divided the city into two...
. The others are Al Shindagha Tunnel
Al Shindagha Tunnel
Al Shindagha Tunnel is a tunnel in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. It goes under Dubai Creek to connect the neighborhoods of Deira and Al Shindagha. It is the only underwater crossing at Dubai Creek. The tunnel has a total of four lanes, two in each direction. It opened in 1975....
, Al Maktoum Bridge
Al Maktoum Bridge
Al Maktoum Bridge is a bridge that crosses Dubai Creek in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. It is one of five crossings on the creek. The others are Al Shindagha Tunnel, Floating Bridge, Al Garhoud Bridge and Business Bay Crossing.Al Maktoum Bridge was the first bridge in Dubai. It opened in 1963...
, Al Garhoud Bridge
Al Garhoud bridge
Al Garhoud Bridge is one of four road bridges over Dubai Creek, and one of five crossing, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Al Garhoud Bridge forms the eastern end of the road toll that went into effect on 1 July 2007...
and Business Bay Crossing
Business Bay Crossing
The 13 lane Business Bay Crossing is one of the most recent bridges across Dubai Creek and was opened to traffic in June 2007...
. The bridge, which cost 155 million dirhams
United Arab Emirates dirham
The dirham is the currency of the United Arab Emirates. The ISO 4217 code for the United Arab Emirates dirham is AED. Unofficial abbreviations include DH or Dhs. The dirham is subdivided into 100 ....
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
Salik (road toll)
Salik is the name given to the electronic toll road system in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The system has been by some residents of the city state for being an added expense for them. However, in general the system has been well received as a further way of attempting to reduce the serious...
, 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 MaktoumMohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum
Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum , also Sheikh Mohammed, , is the Prime Minister and Vice President of the United Arab Emirates , and absolute monarch of Dubai.-Personal life and education:...
and the expertise of the Dubai Roads and Transport Authority (RTA).
Waagner-Biro Gulf 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. 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) 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 SmileDubai Smile
The Dubai Smile is the nickname given to a what will become, upon completion, the seventh crossing across the Dubai Creek. It will replace the temporary Floating Bridge, and will cost about Dhs810 million. The Smile consists of 12 lanes and a footpath in each direction. The width of the bridge is...
by 2012.
http://archive.gulfnews.com/articles/08/11/17/10260200.html
Image gallery
Construction of the Floating Bridge on 31 May 2007http://www.waagner-biro.at/references//reference/floating-bridge-dubai/
External links
- Floating bridge over Dubai Creek opens Gulf NewsGulf NewsGulf News is a daily English language newspaper published from Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates with a December 2009 BPA audited circulation of over 117,036 qualified copies...
(16 July 2007) - Pontoon will ease Maktoum bridge traffic Gulf NewsGulf NewsGulf News is a daily English language newspaper published from Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates with a December 2009 BPA audited circulation of over 117,036 qualified copies...
(17 July 2007) - Floating bridge completed in just 300 days Gulf NewsGulf NewsGulf News is a daily English language newspaper published from Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates with a December 2009 BPA audited circulation of over 117,036 qualified copies...
(20 July 2007)