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Al Ittihad Bridge is a proposed 12-lane bridge across Dubai Creek in Dubai. The Bridge will connect Bur Dubai from near the Dubai Courts and Dubai Creek Park and Deira near Deira City Centre and Dubai Golf Club. It will replace the current Floating Bridge.[2]Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai reviewed the project on 30 June 2013. The project cost is estimated to be Dh1.1 billion.[3] Contract for the construction is expected to be awarded by end of 2014[2] and construction works to be completed in 3 years.[4]
It will have 6 lanes and a footpath in both directions.[2] It will be 61.6 metres (202 ft) wide[2] and 15 metres (49 ft) high.[3] The arc above the bridge will be 100 metres (328 ft),[3] and the width of the waterway is 400 metres (1,312 ft).[5] The crossing can accommodate around 24,000 vehicles per hour.[6] On the Bur Dubai side the bridge will also connect with a new underpass near Rashid Hospital, while on the Deira side it will be linked with Al Ittihad Road for motorists travelling to Sharjah.[5]
The project is scheduled for opening in early 2018.[1]
The Al Ittihad Bridge was originally announced on November 15, 2008 nicknamed Dubai Smile, and also referred to as Seventh Crossing.[7][8] The cost then estimated was Dh810 million and construction was originally expected to be complete by 2012.[9]Khaleej Times on 7 August 2012 reported that the Dubai Smile will be open for traffic in the middle of 2013.[10] This was later revised to late 2018,[11] since postponed.
It was announced on November 6, 2009 that the Floating Bridge will stay till 2014.[12] It is still in operation as of 2021.[citation needed]
