Dubai: The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) will open a Dh150m bridge leading to Deira Islands project on Friday.

The new bridge, which will link Deira Islands with Al Khaleej Road, is expected to expedite the construction of infrastructure of road network leading to the islands.

Mattar Al Tayer, director-general and chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of RTA said: “The project undertaken by RTA in conjunction with Nakheel included the construction of a temporary entrance to Deira Islands and the opening of the water canal for navigation. Nakheel has started building the infrastructure for the islands and maritime works by completing the entrance of the western bridge.”

He said the bridge is now linked with Al Khaleej Road in the direction of the new ships harbour and fish market along the stretch of Abu Baker Al Siddique Road, starting from the roundabout at the intersection with Al Khaleej Road.

The project includes opening the navigational lane beneath the bridge by removing about two million cubic metres of drilling materials in three landfill areas. Works also include extending the existing canal walls up to the new fish market marina in addition to lighting works, sewage, asphalt, shifting and protecting the existing services, and extending services along the bridges.

Following the opening of the bridge, the project contractor will remove the last landfill area to complete works for opening the navigational canal, the RTA said in a press release on Sunday.

The Deira Islands project, developed by Nakheel, comprises four man-made islands inside the Arabian Gulf waters along the stretch of Deira Beach spanning an area of about 17 million square metres.

The project, which is the biggest development project in Deira, comprises the construction of hundreds of hotels, hotel apartments, multi-use buildings and marinas. It is expected to be inhabited by 250,000 people and 80,000 employees.

According to traffic studies, the volume of traffic generated by the project is about 110,000 journeys during peak hours which will require the construction of a massive network of roads and transit systems.

There will be three main entrances to the project, two at the intersection of Al Khaleej Road with Abu Baker Al Siddique Road and Al Quds Road, and the third extending from Al Mina Road alongside Rashid Port. The project provides for direct and free entrances through flyovers leading to all entrances of the project.