Dubai: The Dubai Water Canal project is progressing on schedule, an official said at a government services expo where a huge model of the canal is on show.
Scheduled for completion in mid-2016, the canal will run 3.2km from Business Bay and empty into the sea in Jumeirah. The Dh2 billion project will cut across Shaikh Zayed Road, Al Safa Park and Al Wasl and Jumeirah roads.
It will be lined by hotels, shops and restaurants that are expected to draw scores of residents and tourists.
The large canal model, turning heads at the Dubai Government Achievements Exhibition (DGAE) until Wednesday, offers a rare view of the entire project in 3D.
Salma Al Shamshi, an engineer at the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), told Gulf News most of the Phase 1 canal work has been completed. It involves the construction of a bridge on Shaikh Zayed Road comprising eight lanes in each direction.
She added that Phase 2, which includes constructing bridges on Al Wasl and Jumeirah roads, was 25 per cent complete.
“We are raising the roads and maintaining the same number of lanes, so there will no impact on traffic,” Salma said.
Parking, too, is not expected to be problematic as each building in Dubai must provide a set number of parking spaces under Dubai Municipality rules, she added.
“I think parking will be part of the new buildings, with parking capacity per building according to municipality rules.”
The RTA is “handling the infrastructure and canal part of the project”, Salma explained, while private developers will build their own leisure destinations along the water body.
What’s more, according to Salma, the canal will improve the environment as it will increase the water circulation in Dubai Creek, which will be connected to the canal at its beginning, and will run the course into the sea.
“It will enhance the movement of the water, reducing pollution in the Creek… The canal will also increase the waterfront area of Dubai. There will be water taxis and marine transport, as is available in the Creek.”
A little over two weeks ago, the RTA had announced the completion rate of Phase III, which includes constructing the canal connecting the Business Bay Canal with the Arabian Gulf, had hit 15 per cent.
The final phase also involves constructing three pedestrian bridges linking the two sides of the canal. It also includes constructing four marine transit stations and filling works to build a man-made peninsula along Jumeirah Park.
