Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) on Sunday opened two new bridges as part of the Trade Centre Roundabout Development Project, advancing a major overhaul of one of the city’s busiest intersections. The bridges serve traffic from 2nd December Street toward Sheikh Rashid Road and Al Majlis Street, which connects to Al Mustaqbal Street.
Each bridge carries two lanes in both directions. Together, they span about 2,000 meters and can handle up to 6,000 vehicles per hour. The bridges opened ahead of schedule, originally set for mid-January, and are expected to reduce travel time from 2nd December Street to Al Majlis Street, Al Mustaqbal Street, and Zabeel Palace Street from around 10 minutes to about two minutes.
Mattar Al Tayer, director general and chairman of the RTA, said the Trade Centre Roundabout links Sheikh Zayed Road with five major roads, making it a critical junction in Dubai’s road network. He said the broader project, with a total cost exceeding 696 million dirhams, includes five bridges totaling 5,000 meters in length and the conversion of the existing roundabout into an at-grade intersection.
According to the RTA, overall project completion has reached nearly 50 percent and will proceed through phased openings. A bridge linking Sheikh Zayed Road to Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Street is scheduled to open in March, while two additional bridges serving traffic toward 2nd December Street are planned for October 2026. Once complete, the project is expected to reduce average delays at the intersection from 12 minutes to about 90 seconds.
The development serves key commercial and residential areas, including Dubai World Trade Centre, Dubai International Financial Centre, and neighborhoods such as Zabeel, Al Satwa, and Al Karama. The RTA estimates more than half a million residents and visitors will benefit.
The Trade Centre Roundabout project is part of a wider plan that includes upgrading Al Mustaqbal Street through 2027. That work will expand road capacity, add bridges and tunnels, and further reduce travel times along a corridor linking major business and event districts.
Photo credits: Government of Dubai Media Office
Oksana Bozhko is a Contributor to Dubai Voice.
Oksana Bozhko
