Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid inspects half-finished Dubai Canal

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid inspects the progress of the Dubai Canal project on Saturday. The project will connect Dubai Creek to the Arabian Gulf via a canal running through Safa Park. WAM

DUBAI // The Dubai Canal project linking Business Bay with the Arabian Gulf is more than halfway completed.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, was told by managers during an inspection trip that the project was 61 per cent complete.

Sheikh Mohammed was inspecting excavation work completed so far and bridges constructed on Sheikh Zayed Road, Al Wasl Road, and Jumeirah Beach Road.

He was briefed on the completion of the Dubai-bound Sheikh Zayed Road bridge, which extends one kilometre, comprises eight lanes and was opened to vehicles on Thursday.

Construction work on the bridge for Abu Dhabi-bound traffic will commence in a few days.

Work on the Dubai Canal Project is progressing on time, project managers say, with 61 per cent of the overall project already finished. The completion rate for bridges being built for the project is even higher, at 70 per cent.

Sheikh Mohammed also reviewed designs and models of three pedestrian bridges to be built, along with the design options for a walkway, running track, patios featuring interactive screens, sitting areas overlooking the canal and landscaping works.

The Walk at the Dubai Canal will be linked with the running track and The Walk at Jumeirah Corniche, extending 7 kilometres.

Sheikh Mohammed was also shown the designs of smart lighting poles, which can be controlled via a smart app. Thirty seven of these poles have been installed on the northern bridge on Sheikh Zayed Road, extending 899 metres, along with lighting fixtures on the footpath extending 271 metres.

Once completed, the project will connect Dubai Creek to the Arabian Gulf via a canal running through Safa Park.