Dubai: Several Dubai neighbourhoods will be ringed by the Dubai Canal project which is in the final stages of construction and is expected to finish in the next couple of months.
Once the canal is ready, Bur Dubai, Zabeel, Al Karama, Oud Metha and Al Satwa will be part of an island ringed by the Dubai Creek, Business Bay, Dubai Canal and the Arabian Gulf flowing into each other.
Dubai Creek, which begins at Al Shindagha in Bur Dubai, originally spanned 14 kilometres, culminating at Ras Al Khor Wildlife Sanctuary. However, the Creek has now been extended all the way to the intersection of Al Khail Road and Financial Centre Street, where Business Bay begins. The combined waterway will stretch for 27 kilometres. Parts of Jumeirah and Al Safa areas, Business Bay, Downtown Dubai, Al Jaddaf and Oud Metha will also be part of the massive island.
Excavation work is currently under way beneath the elevated intersection of Al Khail Road and Financial Centre Street, where the fabled Creek links the modern waterways of Business Bay and Dubai Canal.
Water in the Business Bay has also been sucked out as part of project, and the Creek water is expected to flow in once the project is ready. More info
By Shafaat Shahbandari, Staff Reporter www.gulfnews.com
Canal project at a glance
Milestones
• October 2013: Dubai Canal work is launched
• May 2014: RTA begins digging of the canal
• May 2014: Work on Al Wasl road and Jumeirah road flyovers begins
• November 2014: Work on the Shaikh Zayed Road flyover starts
• January 2015: Al Safa Park area is reduced to make way for the canal.
• January 2016: The first part of the 16-lane flyover opens for Sharjah-bound traffic.
• March 2016: RTA opens a portion of Al Wasl Road flyover, feeding traffic from Al Athar Street to Hadeeqa Street.
• June 2016: Al Wasl road flyover opens fully.
• June 2016: RTA announces Dh703 million phases four and five
• July 2016: The six-lane Jumeirah road flyover opens
• July 2016: The second part of the 16-lane flyover opens for Abu Dhabi-bound traffic
• Phase four and five are set for completion in October 2016.
Phases
Phase One
Cost: Dh580 million
Start: October 2013
End: July 2016
Project: Work on phase one of the Dubai Canal project involved tracking and diverting utility lines of water, electricity, sewage and telecom, followed by construction of a 16-lane bridge on Shaikh Zayed Road. The flyover opened in two phases in January and July this year.
Phase Two
Cost: Dh384 million
Start: April 2014
End: July 2016
Project: Work involved construction of two flyovers on Al Wasl and Jumeirah roads, in addition to related road works. The Al Wasl flyover opened for traffic in June this year, while the Jumeirah Road flyover opened in July
Phase Three
Cost: Dh802 million
Start: June 2014
End: October 2016
Project: This phase comprises digging of the canal linking it with Business Bay and Dubai Creek on one side and with the Arabian Gulf on the other side. The excavation work is at the final stages now.
Phase Four
Cost: Dh307 million
Start: June 2016
End: October 2016
Project: This phase will see completion of infrastructural work required to serve property development on both sides of the canal, including roads works and utility lines.
Phase Five
Cost: Dh396 million
Start: June 2016
End: October 2016
Project: Work includes building quay walls of precast concrete slabs all along the stretch of the canal as well as treatment of hyper-saline water of the Business Bay Lakes, removing sand barriers in the course of the canal, and constructing three marine transport stations.
