Al Garhoud Bridge

Infobox Bridge
bridge_name = Al Garhoud Bridge

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caption = Al Garhoud Bridge during construction in October 2007
carries = Vehicles
crosses = Dubai Creek
locale = Dubai, United Arab Emirates
maint = Roads and Transport Authority
design =
mainspan =
length = convert|520|m|ft
width =
height =
load =
clearance =
below = convert|16|m|ft
traffic =
begin =
complete =
open = Old: 1976 New: 2008
closed = Old: 2008

Al Garhoud Bridge (In Arabic: جسر القرهود) 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 (called Salik) that went into effect on 1 July 2007. Since the beginning of Salik, Al Garhoud Bridge has seen low amounts of traffic for Dubai.

Old Al Garhoud Bridge

The old Al Garhoud Bridge was the second bridge constructed that crossed the Creek, after Al Maktoum Bridge. The bridge opened in 1976. In 2007, nearly 9,000 vehicles crossed the bridge every hour at peak flow. [Cite news |title=Taxi users in Dubai to pay road toll |url=http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticleNew.asp?xfile=data/theuae/2007/February/theuae_February510.xml&section=theuae&col= |publisher=Khaleej Times |date=2007-02-15] It has been the cause of huge traffic jams in Dubai. The main reason for this was the number of roads that fed into the bridge. On the Bur Dubai-bound lanes, seven lanes (from three different roads) convergeed into three lanes.Cite web |url=http://archive.gulfnews.com/articles/07/09/25/10155848.html |title=Garhoud bridge will handle 16,000 vehicles an hour |publisher=Gulf News |date=2007-09-25 |accessdate=2007-12-28] For the Deira-bound lanes, five lanes converged into three lanes. Also, the bridge had to be closed to allow large boats to pass under it.Cite web |title=New Garhoud bridge to be opened by mid-December with eight lanes |url=http://www.gulfnews.com/nation/Traffic_and_Transport/10157508.html |publisher="Gulf News" |date=2007-10-02 |accessdate=2007-10-02] The bridge had a total of 6 lanes: 3 lanes in each direction.

New Al Garhoud Bridge

To solve the major traffic problems caused by the old bridge, a replacement was constructed in 2008. The bridge, which cost 415 million dirhams, is meant to add more lanes of road that cross Dubai Creek. The new Al Garhoud Bridge has a total of 14 lanes, 7 in each direction. It is able to handle 16,000 vehicles per hour. Construction of the bridge began in February 2006 and by 26 September 2007, 76% of the construction was completed. The bridge is 520 metres (1,706 feet) long and 16 metres (52.5 feet) above the water. On 15 December 2007, four lanes on the Deira-bound side opened to vehicle traffic.Cite web |title=New Al Garhoud Bridge partially opened |url=http://archive.gulfnews.com/articles/07/12/15/10174984.html |publisher="Gulf News" |date=2007-12-16 |accessdate=2008-05-01] Then on 15 March 2008, as has been scheduled, remaining lanes on both sides were opened. [Cite web |title=New Al Garhoud Bridge to open on Saturday |url=http://archive.gulfnews.com/articles/08/03/14/10197466.html |publisher="Gulf News" |date=2008-03-14 |accessdate=2008-05-01] The current bridge will be demolished after the new bridge has opened. Shortly after the bridge opened, the Roads and Transport Authority announced that Al Garhoud Bridge will be decorated with artwork that looks like sand dunes during the day and waves at night with the aid of lighting. [Cite web |title=Artistic vision for Garhoud Bridge |url=http://archive.gulfnews.com/articles/08/04/19/10206730.html |publisher="Gulf News" |date=2008-04-19 |accessdate=2008-05-01]

References