Abu Dhabi: Tourism Development and Investment Company (TDIC), master developer of tourism, cultural and residential projects in Abu Dhabi, has completed the development of Hodariyat Bridge – the UAE’s largest cable-stay bridge, which links the Abu Dhabi city’s western coastline to the Hodariyat Island.
The impressive bridge was successfully completed six months ahead of schedule and It has now been handed over to Department of Transport in Abu Dhabi.
The 1.3 km-long bridge provides a 29m vertical clearance, and carries six lanes of traffic and two walk ways. The suspended bridge is the biggest of its kind in the UAE; its tall height means that ships are able to pass underneath it. More than 650 people and a total of 5 million man hours were dedicated to the timely completion of the bridge. Work began in October 2009 and was concluded in March 2012.
Nabil Al Kendi, Chief Development Officer at TDIC, said, “We are proud to have worked on this new addition to the beautiful collection of bridges in Abu Dhabi. The completion of Hodariyat Bridge marks an important milestone in the island’s history as it will facilitate its future development. It also marks another milestone for TDIC, as we successfully completed the project ahead of schedule.”
Eng. Faisal Ahmed Al Suwaidi, General Director of Main Roads in the Department of Transport in Abu Dhabi, said, “The Department of Transport in Abu Dhabi is committed to work closely with different authorities, both government and private to provide the best solutions and added benefits to the residents of the Emirate. This is achieved by developing sustainable transport infrastructure and systems aimed at providing easier and safe transport solutions for the public in Abu Dhabi and adhering to world-class environmental standards.”
The handover of Hodariyat Bridge to the Department of Transport in Abu Dhabi follows on from the recent completion of the Al Bateen Beach project by TDIC, which is located in close proximity to the bridge. The Al Bateen Beach project, which consists of a beachside park that overlooks 800 metres of pristine coastline and a number of amenities for visitors, was completed in January and handed over to ADM; it was then officially opened in March. Al Bateen Beach features a beach that is open to the public, as well as extensive lawn and picnic areas, sports courts featuring soccer and volleyball grounds, a play area for children, event space, kiosk, and food and beverage outlets.