RTA has awarded acontractfor the construction of Deira Palm Island Entrance Bridge Project and openedthe waterway underneath the bridge to serve the Marina and the new Fish Market costing Dh150 million national news agency wam reported today.

The decisions was taken asper thedirectives of His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Vice-President Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai to start construction works in a series of roads & transit system projects endorsed by him during a recent visit to the Roads and Transport Authority.

Mattar Al Tayer Director-General and Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of RTA inspected work progress that encompasses the construction of a temporary entrance to Deira Islands and opening the waterway.

Nakheel started the infrastructure & maritime works on the Islands by completing the entrance to the western bridge and linking it with Al Khaleej Road in the direction of the new marina and the fish market at the extension of Abu Baker Al Siddique Road starting from the R/A at the intersection of Al Khaleej Road.

The project also includes opening the waterway by removing about two million cubic meters of drilling materials at the three reclamation points and constructing the side walls of the canal up to the marina of the new Fish Market besides carrying out lighting sewage and asphalt works protectingand shifting the existing utility lines and extending service lines via the bridges.

"The contractor has completed about 20 per centof the project works where about 320000 cubic meters of earth materials have been removed from the filling areas and the 32 meter-wide temporary water canal has been opened. Construction works have exceeded 22 per centon the bridge and construction works in the project are expected to be completed in the last quarter of this year. Following the opening of the bridge works would begin in removing the last filling works to clear the way for opening of the waterway in full" explained Al Tayer.

It is noteworthy that the Deira Islands project which is developed by Nakheel is the new waterfront of Dubai comprising four man-made islands reclaimed from the Arabian Gulf across the stretch of Deira Beach spanning an area of about 17 million square meters.

The project which is considered the biggest development project undertaken in Deira encompasses the construction of hundreds of hotels hotel apartments multi-purpose buildings and marinas. The area is expected to be inhabited by about 250000 persons and accommodate about 80000 employees.

According to traffic studies the traffic volumes generated by the project are expected to be in the order of 110000 journeys during peak time which requires the provision of a massive infrastructure of roads and public transport systems.

The project will have three main entrances two at intersections with Al Khaleej Road with Abu Baker Al Siddique Road and Al Quds Road. The third extends from Al Mina Road parallel to Rashid Port. Every attention has been made to provide direct and seamless entrances through flyovers constructed at all the entrances of the project.