View source for Al Garhoud Bridge

{{Infobox Bridge
|bridge_name   = Al Garhoud Bridge
|image         =
|caption       = Al Garhoud Bridge
|carries       = Vehicles
|crosses       = [[Dubai Creek]]
|locale        = [[Dubai]], [[United Arab Emirates]]
|maint         = Roads and Transport Authority
|design        = 
|mainspan      = 
|length        = {{convert|520|m|ft}}
|width         = 
|height        = 
|load          = 
|clearance     = 
|below         = {{convert|16|m|ft}}
|traffic       = 
|builder       = New: [[BESIX]]
|begin         = 
|complete      = 
|open          = Old: 1976 <br/> New: 2008
|closed        = Old: 2008
}}

'''Al Garhoud Bridge''' (in [[Arabic language|Arabic]]: جسر القرهود) is one of three road bridges over [[Dubai Creek]], and one of five crossings, in [[Dubai]], [[United Arab Emirates]].  Al Garhoud Bridge forms the eastern end of the road toll (called [[Salik (Road Toll)|Salik]]) that went into effect on 1 July 2007.  Since the beginning of Salik, Al Garhoud Bridge has seen low amounts of traffic for Dubai. [[File:Salik's Al Garhoud Bridge Toll Gate.jpg|thumb| Al Garhoud Bridge with toll gates]]

== Old Al Garhoud Bridge ==
The old Al Garhoud Bridge was the second bridge constructed that crossed the Creek, after [[Al Maktoum Bridge]].  The bridge opened in 1976.  In 2007, nearly 9,000 vehicles crossed the bridge every hour at peak flow.<ref>{{cite news |title=Taxi users in Dubai to pay road toll |url=http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticleNew.asp?xfile=data/theuae/2007/February/theuae_February510.xml&section=theuae&col= |newspaper=Khaleej Times |date=2007-02-15 |access-date=2007-02-27 |archive-date=2014-01-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140110143836/http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticleNew.asp?xfile=data%2Ftheuae%2F2007%2FFebruary%2Ftheuae_February510.xml&section=theuae&col= |url-status=dead }}</ref>  It has been the cause of huge traffic jams in Dubai.  The main reason for this was the number of roads that fed into the bridge.  On the [[Bur Dubai]]-bound lanes, seven lanes (from three different roads) converged into three lanes.<ref name="Garhoud Bridge">{{cite news|url=http://archive.gulfnews.com/articles/07/09/25/10155848.html |title=Garhoud bridge will handle 16,000 vehicles an hour |newspaper=[[Gulf News]] |date=2007-09-25 |access-date=2007-12-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080114181126/http://archive.gulfnews.com/articles/07/09/25/10155848.html |archive-date=14 January 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref> For the [[Deira, Dubai|Deira]]-bound lanes, five lanes converged into three lanes.<ref name="Garhoud Bridge"/>  Also, the bridge had to be closed to allow large boats to pass under it.<ref name="Garhoud Bridge 2">{{cite news |title=New Garhoud bridge to be opened by mid-December with eight lanes |url=http://www.gulfnews.com/nation/Traffic_and_Transport/10157508.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130125100237/http://www.gulfnews.com/nation/Traffic_and_Transport/10157508.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=2013-01-25 |newspaper=[[Gulf News]] |date=2007-10-02 |access-date=2007-10-02 }}</ref>  The bridge had a total of 6 lanes: 3 lanes in each direction.

== New Al Garhoud Bridge ==
[[File:New Al Garhoud Bridge Under Construction on 1 May 2007 Pict 3.jpg|thumb|New Al Garhoud Bridge under construction by [[BESIX]] (progress photo taken on 1 May 2007)]]
To solve the major traffic problems caused by the old bridge, a replacement was constructed between 2006 and 2008 by Belgian main contractor [[BESIX]].<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Besix unleashes monster Garhoud span |url=http://www.arabianbusiness.com/besix-unleashes-monster-garhoud-span-216974.html |magazine=[[Arabian Business]] |date=2006-11-25 |ref = none}}</ref>
The bridge, which cost 415 million [[United Arab Emirates dirham|dirhams]],<ref name="Garhoud Bridge"/> is meant to add more lanes of road that cross Dubai Creek.  The new Al Garhoud Bridge has a total of 14 lanes, 7 in each direction.<ref name="Garhoud Bridge"/>  It is able to handle 16,000 vehicles per hour.<ref name="Garhoud Bridge"/>  Construction of the bridge began in February 2006 and by  26 September 2007, 76% of the construction was completed.<ref name="Garhoud Bridge"/>  The bridge is {{convert|520|m|ft|0|abbr=on}} long and {{convert|16|m|ft|1|abbr=on}} above the water.<ref name="Garhoud Bridge"/>  On 15 December 2007, four lanes on the Deira-bound side were opened to vehicle traffic.<ref name="NewBridge">{{cite news |title=New Al Garhoud Bridge partially opened |url=http://archive.gulfnews.com/articles/07/12/15/10174984.html |newspaper=[[Gulf News]] |date=2007-12-16 |access-date=2008-05-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080424112741/http://archive.gulfnews.com/articles/07/12/15/10174984.html |archive-date=24 April 2008 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}</ref>  Then on 15 March 2008, as had been scheduled,<ref name="Garhoud Bridge"/> remaining lanes on both sides were opened.<ref>{{cite news |title=New Al Garhoud Bridge to open on Saturday |url=http://archive.gulfnews.com/articles/08/03/14/10197466.html |newspaper=[[Gulf News]] |date=2008-03-14 |access-date=2008-05-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080520004412/http://archive.gulfnews.com/articles/08/03/14/10197466.html |archive-date=20 May 2008 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}</ref>  The old bridge was demolished after the new bridge opened.<ref name="Garhoud Bridge 2"/><ref name="NewBridge"/>  Shortly after the bridge opened, the Roads and Transport Authority announced that Al Garhoud Bridge would be decorated with artwork that look like sand dunes during the day and waves at night with the aid of lighting.<ref>{{cite news |title=Artistic vision for Garhoud Bridge |url=http://archive.gulfnews.com/articles/08/04/19/10206730.html |newspaper=[[Gulf News]] |date=2008-04-19 |access-date=2008-05-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080424214948/http://archive.gulfnews.com/articles/08/04/19/10206730.html |archive-date=24 April 2008 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}</ref>

==Photo gallery==
'''Construction Photos on 31 January 2007'''
<gallery>
Image:New Al Garhoud Bridge Under Construction on 31 January 2007 Pict 2.jpg|
Image:New Al Garhoud Bridge Under Construction on 31 January 2007 Pict 5.jpg|
Image:New Al Garhoud Bridge Under Construction on 31 January 2007 Pict 6.jpg|
</gallery>

'''Construction Photos on 1 May 2007'''
<gallery>
Image:New Al Garhoud Bridge Under Construction on 1 May 2007 Pict 3.jpg|
Image:New Al Garhoud Bridge Under Construction on 1 May 2007 Pict 1.jpg|
</gallery>

'''Construction Photo on 31 May 2007'''
<gallery>
Image:New Al Garhoud Bridge Under Construction on 31 May 2007 Pict 6.jpg|
</gallery>

'''Construction Photo on 18 October 2007'''
<gallery>
Image:New Al Garhoud Bridge on 18 October 2007 Pict 4.jpg|
</gallery>

== References ==
{{reflist}}

{{Commons}}

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{{Bridges and tunnels in Dubai}}
{{Dubai topics}}

[[Category:Bridges in Dubai]]
[[Category:Bridges in the United Arab Emirates]]
[[Category:Bridges completed in 1976]]
[[Category:Bridges completed in 2008]]
[[Category:1976 establishments in the United Arab Emirates]]