Dubai International Airport’s Terminal 1 is set for significant improvements. The bridge to the terminal will be expanded and modernized, following a contract awarded by Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) in partnership with Dubai Airports.
This initiative aims to alleviate traffic congestion approaching the terminal, ensuring a quicker, more efficient journey for passengers heading to their flights. This upgrade is timely as Dubai International Airport’s passenger numbers are projected to surpass 92 million in 2024.
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Mattar Al Tayer, Director General and Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of the Roads and Transport Authority, shared insights into the project.
“The plan involves expanding the current bridge from three to four lanes by constructing a new bridge with an innovative system of steel box girders integrated with a composite concrete slab,” he stated.
Mattar Al Tayer
He emphasized that this solution was chosen for its efficiency. It allows the addition of a new lane swiftly, without disrupting existing traffic flow and without needing temporary supports under the bridge, all while adhering to the “highest safety standards.”
“The total bridge length, including ramps, is 171 meters, with the main span stretching nearly 70 meters,” he added.
The project also encompasses:
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Enhancements to road pavements
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Upgrades to infrastructure services and landscaping for better integration with the environment
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New street lighting to improve safety and visibility
“The expansion will boost the bridge’s capacity from 4,200 to 5,600 vehicles per hour, marking a 33% increase,” he noted.
Al Tayer reiterated RTA’s dedication to advancing Dubai’s road and transport infrastructure. He remarked, “The expansion will enhance street capacity, improve safety, and reduce travel times during peak hours.”
Enhancements on Airport Street
Recently, RTA has upgraded Airport Street, from its intersection with Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road to Casablanca Street. This included constructing bridges and tunnels at Al Rashidiya and intersections with Casablanca, Marrakech, and Nad Al Hamar Streets, along with improvements to surface junctions.
This project, directly benefiting Dubai International Airport, also involved building three single-lane bridges: one offering direct access to Terminal 3 without traffic signals, another leading to the Dubai Aviation Engineering Projects (DAEP) complex, and the third connecting Airport Street to Casablanca Street without a traffic signal.
It also provided an alternative route from Al Garhoud to Terminals 1 and 3 directly, and expanded Casablanca Street from three to four lanes towards Al Garhoud Bridge.
