Dubai opens new bridge on Hessa Street to ease traffic congestion

Bridge will reduce travel time in one of the busiest areas in the emirate

The newly opened bridge at Hessa Street will reduce travel time, say Dubai transport authorities. Photo: RTA

Authorities say a new bridge opened in Dubai's Hessa Street will significantly reduce the travel time in one of the city's most notorious areas for heavy traffic.

The two-lane bridge, which spans 1km, will enhance traffic flow between Hessa Street and the Al Khail Road, reducing travel time from 15 to three minutes, according to the emirate's Roads and Transport Authority (RTA).

The bridge is a key part of a wider project, with a total cost of Dh689 billion, which will also see the upgrading of four intersections at Hessa Street to Sheikh Zayed Road, First Al Khail Road, Al Asayel Street, and the Al Khail Road, as well as the creation of a 13.5km cycling track.

Hessa Street will also be expanded from two to four lanes in each direction, doubling its capacity to accommodate up to 8,000 vehicles per hour. The project is said to be 54 per cent complete, with all intersections scheduled to open by the last quarter of 2025.

“[The] Hessa Street development project is one of the key infrastructure projects aimed at enhancing Dubai's road network,” said RTA director general Mattar Al Tayer. “It serves several key residential and developmental areas, including Al Sufouh 2, Al Barsha Residential Area, and Jumeirah Village Circle.

“By 2030, the population in the areas served by this project is projected to exceed 640,000 residents. The project will double Hessa Street's capacity, increasing it from 8,000 vehicles per hour in both directions to 16,000 vehicles per hour.”

The 13.5km of cycling and e-scooter tracks will connect Al Sufouh to Dubai Hills through Hessa Street. The RTA estimate the track's capacity at 5,200 users per hour.