After three years of waiting, the Dubai Water Canal officially opens today.
The Dh2.7-billion project is a joint venture of the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), Meydan and Meraas. His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, will inaugurate the canal in the evening.
The 3.2km canal with a 6.4km-long waterfront has cut through the emirate, starting from the Business Bay and stretching to Safa Park, Al Wasl Road, Jumeirah 2 and Jumeirah Road to end in the Arabian Gulf at the Jumeirah Beach Park.
Mattar Al Tayer, the director-general and chairman of the RTA board, was quoted by Khaleej Times: “The Dubai Water Canal is one of the shrewd ideas of Sheikh Mohammed to add a unique tourist and commercial showpiece offering a new style of living in Dubai city. HH is always keen to roll out creative and cracking visionary ideas that define new concepts for peoples’ happiness and welfare.”
Five pedestrian bridges, he stated, have been constructed, of which three cross the Dubai Water Canal with unique aesthetic specifications rising 8.5 meters to facilitate the movement of pedestrians.
The first and second bridges are located between Sheikh Zayed Road and Al Wasl Roads, and the third is located in the area between Al Wasl and Jumeirah Roads, said the RTA chief.
The first one, which extends 120 m in length and six m in width, is a metal bridge suspended by metal cables lifting the bridge floor. These cables are based on metal pylons built on concrete pillars, he explained.
The second bridge measures 205 x 6.5 meters and the floor of the bridge is constructed on an S Curve shape. The pedestrian bridge is suspended by an oval arch rising 50 meters and the bridge is supported by concrete pillars on both sides of the canal with hanging steel cables to lift the bridge floor.
The third bridge measures 140×3.5 meters in a form of a twisted steel bracket built on steel columns on both sides of the canal.
All bridges are fitted with electric elevators and escalators on both sides.
