Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) inaugurated two new bridges on 15 September 2024 as part of the Garn Al Sabkha–Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road Intersection Development Project — a major infrastructure push to ease congestion on one of Dubai's busiest east-west corridors.
Bridge Specifications and Routes
The first bridge spans 601 metres and carries eastbound traffic from Garn Al Sabkha Street onto Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road, giving commuters a direct connection toward Al Qusais and Deira. The second bridge extends 664 metres and links southbound traffic from Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road to Al Yalayis Street, providing a smoother route to Jebel Ali Port. Both bridges are two-lane structures, each with a throughput capacity of 3,200 vehicles per hour.
Travel Time Reductions of Up to 70%
The infrastructure delivers significant commute improvements for daily road users. Drivers heading from Garn Al Sabkha Street to Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road toward Al Qusais and Deira will see travel times drop from 20 minutes to 12 minutes during peak hours — a 40% reduction. For southbound traffic on Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road continuing to Al Yalayis Street toward Jebel Ali Port, travel time falls from 21 minutes to just 7 minutes, a 70% cut.
Project Status and Final Phase
At the time of the September 2024 opening, the Garn Al Sabkha intersection project stood at 97% completion. The remaining works include a 943-metre bridge connecting Garn Al Sabkha Street with Al Asayel Street, scheduled for delivery by October 2024. That final structure will further optimise the interchange between Sheikh Zayed Road and Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road, completing a four-bridge network with a combined length of 2,874 metres and a total capacity of 17,600 vehicles per hour.
Part of RTA's Strategic Road Master Plan
The Garn Al Sabkha project is one component of RTA's broader master plan to strengthen Dubai's east-west road corridors in line with the emirate's continued growth. The phased approach — earlier bridges were opened in June 2024 — reflects the authority's strategy of delivering capacity incrementally while keeping disruption to existing traffic flows to a minimum.
