Dubai's RTA opens Meydan City bridges

Dubai's Roads & Transport Authority (RTA) has opened three new bridges at the Meydan City development, home to the world's largest horse racing circuit.

The three bridges, totalling 2025 m, provide entrance and exit points to the racecourse. Another private bridge provides direct VIP access to the Meydan Grandstand.

The project involved diverting the route of Meydan Road, which surrounds Meydan City, providing access corridors and the partial construction of a canal, which will eventually link up with Dubai Creek and the Meydan Grandstand, allowing boat owners to sail directly into the race course.

Commenting on the opening, H.E. Mattar Al Tayer, RTA chairman and executive director, said, "Meydan Roads & Bridges Project, which has a price tag of AED 1 billion, (US$ 272 million) is one of the key projects undertaken by the RTA and its importance is underlined by the massive nature of the Meydan project."

Project background

Dubai Racing Club is the owner of the new 7.5 million m2 Meydan Racecourse, itself part of developer Meydan's 2.23 million m2 Meydan City project, includes the Meydan Marina, the Meydan Hotel, 60000 seat Grandstand and 10000 car parking spaces.

The racecourse was completed in January 2010 and construction of the Grandstand is expected to be finished this month (March).

Following the start of construction in early 2008 by WCT Engineering and Arabtec joint venture the project was put on hold in February 2009 as the global financial crisis began to bite.