New York architecture firm Fxfowle has released
stunning design images of Dubai’s new $816.9 million bridge, which on completion will become the world's longest arch bridge.
Fxfowle’s design proposal was selected from four submissions from global design companies, and was inspired by ‘the rhythmic grace of Dubai Creek’s current, the elegant splendor of the sand dunes adjacent to the city, the lighting patterns of the lunar cycle and the design of the future Opera House’, the firm told London-based design news website World Architecture News.
The series of four images were released earlier this month, and include dramatic aerial night and day depictions of the completed arch bridge.
Construction is set to begin on the bridge next month and is expected to take four years. At 64 metres wide, the bridge will accommodate 12 lanes of traffic and a metro line running down its centre.
On completion the mega-bridge, which will measure 1,600 metres with an arch 205 metres high and 667 metres long, will overtake the Lupu Bridge in Shanghai as the longest in the world.
The bridge connects the Bur Dubai and Deira areas of the city and will be the sixth creek crossing. Currently the five Dubai Creek crossings are Al Shindagha Tunnel, Al Maktoum Bridge, the Floating Bridge, Al Garhoud Bridge and Business Bay Crossing.
The bridge will also include a metro station, an abra station and the manmade island on which an Opera theatre will be constructed.
Last month Mattar Al Tayer, executive director of the RTA, said the sixth crossing was one of the biggest projects ever undertaken by the RTA.
The RTA is currently investing around $22 billion in Dubai's transport infrastructure as it looks to reduce congestion.