All about Dubai’s latest architectural marvel – The Infinity Bridge
Dubai is well-known for its structural wonders, with its cityscape boasting numerous mega-tall skyscrapers and magnificently unique architecture as far as the eye can see. Amidst the glittering landscape, there are also many impressive infrastructure projects built to simplify commuting throughout the metropolis. The recently opened Infinity Bridge in Dubai is one such project. With the iconic arch design of the bridge representing the mathematical symbol of infinity, this stunning feet of engineering is set to become synonymous with the city’s infinite ambitions and goals. In this article we go in-depth on Dubai’s latest architectural sensation.
INFINITY BRIDGE IN DUBAI – AN OVERVIEW
The Roads & Transport Authority (RTA) is constantly working on ways to reduce the time spent by citizens in traffic, with the Infinity Bridge in Dubai being the latest step in the right direction.
Announced in 2018, the Infinity Bridge is part of Al Shindagha Corridor Project that will cost AED 5.3 billion and serve developments like Dubai Seafront, Port Rashid, Deira Islands and Dubai Maritime City. The entire corridor spans almost 13 km — running alongside Al Khaleej Street, Cairo Street and Sheikh Rashid Street.
Setting new standards for global engineering, Infinity Bridge has been built over the Dubai Creek alongside Al Shindagha Tunnel. The project by Besix Group has six driving lanes on each side and connects Al Ras and Al Shindagha district.
You can easily cross the bridge in less than two minutes when driving. Almost 24,000 cars can go by in an hour in both directions. With the opening of the new bridge, the number of lanes spanning Dubai Creek has increased from 48 to 60. This will undoubtedly ease the traffic pressure between Bur Dubai and Deira. Ensuring pedestrians and cyclists safety on the bridge is also a top priority, hence the specialised and spacious three-meter-wide lane for those travelling under their own natural steam.
Infinity Bridge’s contractor, Besix, took a remarkable eight months to complete the deck construction. Overall, the bridge is 300 metres long, 22 metres wide and 15.5 metres high. The striking characteristic of the glorious infinity steel arch is 42 metres high. 40 steel segments of the arch were opened during the bridge’s official launch, some weighing almost 130 tons!
WHAT ARE THEY SAYING?
During the inauguration ceremony, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, stressed the importance of road and transport networks in economic growth:
“The road and transport sector is a vital sector that supports economic growth and social welfare, and we continue to advance it, and our investments in it have exceeded 140 billion dirhams over the past fifteen years.”
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
HOW MUCH DID THE INFINITY BRIDGE COST?
The bridge cost AED 374M (approximately $107M). It is part of the ongoing Shindagha Corridor Project aiming to improve traffic flow in the city. The government believes in spending money on infrastructure to provide comfort to Dubai residents.
WHAT WAS THE INFINITY BRIDGE OPENING DATE?
The official Infinity Bridge opening date was 16th January 2022. According to the RTA, the opening of the Bridge has helped cut down the duration of the journey between Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Street and Al Mamzar Intersection to just 13 minutes in the morning rush hour, a massive improvement of 73%. The trip during the evening commute times takes about 22 minutes, which represents another significant improvement in traffic flow of around 63%.
The completion of Infinity Bridge means another incredible addition to the list of astonishing architectural marvels in Dubai. The stunning design of the bridge can attain iconic status and be a place of interest for every tourist.
The history of Dubai’s architecture is worth exploring and the Infinity Bridge is an impressive continuation of that tradition. Not only does it help reducetraffic congestion in the city, but it also gives the residents of Dubai something to be proud of.
Have you used the Infinity Bridge yet? Don’t forget to share your experience in the comments section.
