Dubai: Motorists can drive down the Al Maktoum Bridge without having to pay the Salik toll on Fridays as the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) will close down floating bridge during the weekend.

The RTA announced on Monday that the Floating Bridge will be closed every week from 10pm on Thursdays up to 6am on the following Saturday.

The move is aimed at facilitating better navigation of yachts, dhows and other vessels over the weekend all the way to Dubai Water Canal.

According to the RTA, the closure will allow tourists and residents to better enjoy the cruise down the creek and the canal which flow into each other through the Arabian Gulf.

Maitha Bin Adai, CEO of RTA’s Traffic and Roads Agency said that the closure will offer more time to ships and marine transit modes to navigate through the Dubai Creek and the Dubai Water Canal, which is stimulating the marine traffic in the area.

She added that the extended duration of the Floating Bridge closure will be matched by a corresponding extension of the free crossing over Al Maktoum Bridge.

“The decision has been taken following comprehensive traffic studies, which revealed that Al Maktoum Bridge, Al Garhoud Bridge and Al Shindagha Tunnel together are capable of accommodating the traffic movement in the area on Fridays, which is significantly lesser compared to weekdays,” she said.

However, the Salik toll will continue to apply on Al Garhoud bridge, but motorists will have free access through Al Maktoum Bridge and Shindagha Tunnel.

The Floating Bridge closes down every night between 10pm and 6am, with a corresponding free crossing on Al Maktoum Bridge.