Dh696-million project completes five-bridge network, reducing intersection delays from 12 minutes to 90 seconds
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority opened the fifth and final bridge of the Dh696-million-plus World Trade Centre Roundabout Development Project on Friday, completing a 5km elevated corridor designed to alleviate severe bottlenecks at one of the city’s primary junctions.
The newly commissioned 1km, two-lane bridge links Al Majlis Street directly to 2nd December Street. According to transport authorities, the dedicated connection handles up to 3,000 vehicles per hour and slashes travel time between the two roads from six minutes to one minute.
Across the wider intersection—which has replaced the historic roundabout with a converted ground-level junction and elevated spans—average motorist waiting times are projected to fall from 12 minutes to 90 seconds.
The World Trade Centre interchange serves as a transit hinge between Sheikh Zayed Road and five major arteries: Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Street, Sheikh Rashid Street, 2nd December Street, Za’abeel Palace Street, and Al Majlis Street. It handles heavy cross-town traffic flows between the Dubai World Trade Centre, Downtown Dubai, Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), Deira, and nearby commercial districts.
With the final span now in service, the full Dh696-million infrastructure plan stands complete. The structural components across the five-bridge system comprise:
- Sheikh Zayed Road to Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Street: A 1km, two-lane elevated link carrying up to 3,000 vehicles per hour toward Deira.
- Sheikh Rashid Street to 2nd December Street: Two bridges providing two lanes in each direction, extending 2km in total length with a throughput capacity of 6,000 vehicles per hour.
- Al Majlis Street to 2nd December Street: Two bridges spanning a combined 2km, including Friday’s final opening, delivering a cumulative capacity of roughly 6,000 vehicles per hour.
The phased overhaul eliminates the operational necessity for commuter traffic to weave through the former roundabout circle, directing through-traffic onto continuous flyovers and unclogging adjacent links to Al Mustaqbal Street and Sheikh Rashid Street.
