Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) will close the Floating Bridge for five weeks starting April 17 to ensure major maintenance works.
Built in a record span of 2007 at a cost of Dh155 million then, the Floating Bridge serves as an alternative route for Al Maktoum Bridge, where the Salik toll is applicable, and is the preferred choice of many commuters because it offered free access.
The RTA has clarified that Salik charges will remain applicable on Al Maktoum bridge. The unique floating motorway opens for marine traffic and shuts down for road vehicles from 10pm to 6am in clockwork fashion.
WATCH: How the Floating Bridge opens and closes every night
It is the fifth crossing on Dubai Creek, the others being Al Shindagha Tunnel, Al Maktoum Bridge, Al Garhoud Bridge, and Business Bay Crossing.
To ensure a smooth traffic flow, RTA charted out an integrated plan to reroute the traffic to alternative roads and crossings, namely Al Maktoum Bridge, Infinity Bridge, and Al Garhoud Bridge, open Al Mamzar Street’s exit for motorists coming from Al Ittihad Street in addition to main roads such as Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road and Emirates Road as follows:
- Traffic from Sharjah through Al Ittihad Street: To use Al Mamzar Exit which will be open for traffic (previously restricted to Buses and Taxis) to ease the access to the Infinity Bridge via Cairo and Al Khaleej Streets.
- Traffic from Deira to Bur Dubai through Al Khaleej Street: To use the Infinity Bridge.
- -Traffic fromSharjah to Bur Dubai through Al Ittihad Road: To use the Infinity Bridge via Cairo and Al Khaleej Streets, as well as Al Garhoud Bridge or Al Maktoum Bridge.
- Traffic from Bur Dubai to Deira through Khalid bin Al Waleed Street: To use Al Maktoum Bridge and the Infinity Bridge.
- Traffic from Bur Dubai to Deira through Umm Hurair Road: To use Al Maktoum Bridge.
- Traffic from Bur Dubai to Deira through Sheikh Zayed Road: To use Al Garhoud Bridge, Al Maktoum Bridge, Infinity Bridge and the Business Bay Crossing.
- Traffic from Bur Dubai to Deira through Oud Metha Road: To use Al Maktoum Bridge and Al Garhoud Bridge.
- Traffic from Bur Dubai to Deira through Al Riyadh Street: To use Al Maktoum Bridge.
- Motorists travelling between Bur Dubai and Deira may use main roads such as Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road and Emirates Road.
Riders are recommended to follow RTA’s social media channels, or contact the Call Centre at 8009090 for more information.