Today in Transportation History – 2007: The United Arab Emirates Opens Al Garhoud Bridge

In Western Asia, a major part of the current Al Garhoud Bridge in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) city of Dubai was opened to vehicle traffic. The bridge, which crosses Dubai Creek, connects the communities of Deira and Sharjah in the eastern region of Dubai with the district of Bur Dubai on the city’s western side.

Starting in February 2006, construction of the bridge was undertaken by the Belgian company BESIX Group to replace a structure (likewise named Al Garhoud Bridge) that had been in place in the same vicinity since 1976. By September 2007, more than three-fourths of the replacement bridge had been completed and on December 15 of that year, four lanes on the eastbound side were opened.

“Partial opening of the bridge will help ease traffic congestion for motorists commuting between Bur Dubai and Deira and Sharjah,” noted Mattar Al Tayer, chairman of the board and executive director of the Dubai Roads and Transport Authority, in an interview at the time with the Dubai-based Gulf News. According to someone else quoted by Gulf News on that Saturday in December, “The bridge is huge and it not only gives a smooth ride but also provides a panoramic view of Dubai Creek and the city because of its height.” (The bridge is 52.5 feet, or 16 meters, above the water.)

Those driving west to Bur Dubai continued to use the old Al Garhoud Bridge until all of the remaining lanes on the new bridge were opened in March 2008; the old bridge was demolished shortly thereafter. The new Al Garhoud Bridge, measuring 1,710 feet (520 meters) in length, is one of four road bridges over Dubai Creek and one of five crossings altogether in the UAE’s most populous city.

For more information on Al Garhoud Bridge, please check out https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al_Garhoud_Bridge.

Additional information on the debut of the bridge’s eastbound lanes can be found in the 15 December 2007 Gulf News article “New Garhoud Bridge partially opened” at http://gulfnews.com/news/uae/transport/new-al-garhoud-bridge-partially-opened-1.80043.