A contract has been awarded to build a futuristic bridge to a new tourism-focused island off the coast of Dubai, according to the emirate’s transport authority.
The main bridge to the Bluewaters Island – which is being built at a cost of $1.6 billion and is set to be home to world’s largest Ferris wheel – will reportedly include lanes dedicated to a driverless car system.
The emirate’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) said on Saturday that a contract had been awarded for the bridge project, which will be undertaken by the RTA in cooperation with the state-owned Meraas Holding at a cost of Dh475 million ($130m).
The Bluewaters Island project will feature the Dubai Eye – the 210-metre Ferris wheel set to be the largest in the world – a boutique five-star hotel, as well as retail, residential and entertainment zones.
The island – just offshore from the high-density Jumeirah Beach Residence (JBR) district – is anticipated to attract more than three million visitors per annum, according to the RTA.
Mattar Al Tayer, chairman and executive director of the RTA, said construction works to link the island to the mainland had already started.
“The entrance of the island comprises a main bridge with two lanes in each direction stretching 1400 meters in length and 25 meters in width. It also includes the construction of two lanes of 5.5 meters in width designated for an automated personal rapid transit system to ease the mobility of visitors from and to the metro station (Nakheel Harbour & Tower) on the Sheikh Zayed Road,” he said.
“A footbridge will be constructed to link the luxury island with the waterfront of the JBR, and a teleferic (cable car) to shuttle visitors from and to the entertainment zone,” he added.