It's been 15 years since Dubai's Floating Bridge first opened to traffic

Unique overpass can accommodate thousands of vehicles every hour

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  The Floating Bridge in Deira opened on July 16, 2007. Pawan Singh / The National

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  The bridge opens at night to allow boats to pass through, and closes again in the morning so cars can cross the Creek. Pawan Singh / The National

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  The bridge is made of pontoons, 20-metre-wide hollow concrete blocks cast around a polystyrene centre. Getty Images

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  The bridge project, from conception to opening, was completed in 10 months. Getty Images

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  It took just 23 days to construct, according to Waagner-Biro Gulf, the construction company that built it. Getty Images

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  The bridge was created to ease traffic congestion between Deira and Bur Dubai. Getty Images

In a city full of architecturally marvellous bridges and flyovers, Dubai's Floating Bridge stands out for being a first of its kind in the Emirates.

Built 15 years ago to help ease the flow of traffic between Deira and Bur Dubai, the pontoon bridge is one of six overpasses on Dubai Creek.

Every night a 10-minute operation ensures the bridge goes up at 10pm to let vessels on the Creek to pass, and is reversed at 6am for traffic to cross the waterway. It stays up all day on Sunday, the timings of which changed with the new weekend in January this year.

In 2006 Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, gave the Dubai Roads and Transport Authority the task of coming up with an urgent solution to traffic congestion in the area.

The RTA decided to make it a floating one to meet the deadline, but also to limit height restrictions on passing marine vessels.

Within 10 months, from conception to launch, the bridge, at 365 metres long and 22 metres wide, was ready and opened to the public on July 16, 2007.

It has two independent bridge structures that span the entire Creek, to accommodate the two traffic directions. Between the two 115-metre-long concrete pontoons is a hydraulically driven swing gate made of steel, which is opened and closed every morning and night.

Today, the six-lane structure allows thousands of cars to pass over it every hour, with up to 6,000 at peak times.

It was constructed in only 23 days by Waagner-Biro Gulf, which describes floating bridges as "an anomaly" and this one specifically as a "particularly exciting example".

"The challenge lies in balancing the shifts in height caused by waves and differing traffic loads," reads the description of the project on the construction company's website.

The RTA announced in 2014 that the 12-lane Al Ittihad Bridge will eventually replace the Floating Bridge, but that has yet to happen.

In the meantime, the overpass is a beloved and busy landmark in the city.

When Yas Island was but a bridge and four roads — in pictures

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  Yas Island in May 2007 was but four roads. All photos: Yas Marina Circuit

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  In May 2007, Yas Island is barren but for a bridge leading to it.

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  Construction begins on Yas Marina Circuit in 2007.

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  An outline of the track begins to appear in August 2007.

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  In August 2007, tractors dig up sand to make way for what will become the marina.

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  In February 2008, buildings slowly begin to emerge around what will become the race track.

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  As the track is laid down in 2009, the marina slowly begins to take shape. Next, the remaining sand will be dug up and the area flooded with sea water.

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  Canopies begin to be hung up over the start and finish line as the outer shell of Yas Viceroy Hotel is built in 2009. Construction for a complex of hotels to the left of the Viceroy is also under way.

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  Seating stands rise out of the sand in 2009 at what will become turn seven of the Yas Marina Circuit.

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  Formula One drivers race around turn seven at Yas Marina Circuit.

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  The start and finish line: now ready to welcome tens of thousands of Formula One fans.

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  Yas Viceroy Hotel, which began operating as a W Hotel in 2018, is hugged by the marina - where luxury yachts park for the race weekend.

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  Yas Marina Circuit in all its glory at dusk, complete with new coastline.

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  The sandy island is transformed with grassy hills where Formula One fans can watch the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

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  Formula One drivers get ready to begin the race at Yas Marina Circuit.