Al Maktoum Bridge
Al Maktoum Bridge is a bridge that crosses Dubai Creek in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. It is one of seven crossings of the creek and was the first bridge constructed in Dubai, as well as the first permanent crossing of the creek.
The other crossings are Al Shindagha Tunnel, Floating Bridge, Al Garhoud Bridge, Business Bay Crossing and the Infinity Bridge. The Dubai Metro also passes under the creek.
History
Opened in 1963, the bridge enabled people to cross from Bur Dubai to Deira, or vice versa, without using an Abra or water taxi or going all the way around Dubai Creek. To pay for the bridge, a toll was applied to vehicles crossing the creek going from Deira to Bur Dubai. There was no toll for people travelling in the other direction. Once the bridge was fully paid for in 1973, the toll was removed.The bridge, and roads leading to it, were widened in 2007 to increase the bridge's capacity and to ease congestion. Before the expansion, the peak hour traffic was 8,000 vehicles per hour in the Deira-Bur Dubai direction 8,500 vehicles per hour in the opposite direction. The new lanes were opened on 7 November 2007. By 2024, the bridge was handling up to 22,000 vehicles per hour in both directions.
The road toll, was re-introduced on the Al Maktoum Bridge on 9 September 2008 for both directions. The toll is not charged when the Floating Bridge, a congestion relief bridge, is closed to facilitate the passage of marine traffic.