Project Focus: Dubai Canal Project

The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) had announced that it will be moving forward with the construction of the Dubai Canal Project planned to alter majorly the current look of the Safa Park area. The project has been broken down in to 3 phases as follows:

Phase 1 SOW:

Phase 1 of the project will mainly consist of the construction of a bridge on Sheikh Zayed Road that passes through the highest point of the of the canal, allowing for free maritime movement around the clock.

Phase 1 value: AED 500million

Phase 1 contractors: Mapa and Gunal

Project status: Site mobilization, minor road diversions, and identification, and relocation of existing utilities

Expected date of completion: 4th quarter of 2016

Road diversion near Safa Park

Trench Excavation

Phase 2 SOW:

Construction of 6-lane bridges on Al Wasl and Jumeirah Roads. The scope also includes construction of a multi-tier interchange, providing a traffic link between Al Wasl, Al Hadiqa, and Al Athar roads replacing the existing light junction. The contract also covers utility diversion works beneath the planned Canal, in addition to the construction of spare conduits for utility lines underneath the Canal to meet projected future requirements.

Dubai Canal Project Phase 2 rendering

Phase 2 value: AED 384million

Phase 2 contractor: China State Corporation

Project status: Site mobilization

Expected date of completion: 4th quarter of 2016, to coincide with Phase 1

Phase 3 SOW:

This phase will include digging the Canal linking the Creek with the Arabian Gulf extending from Sheikh Zayed Road, passing across Safa Park and Jumeirah 2, and terminating at the Arabian Gulf near the southern end of Jumeirah Beach Park. The project also includes drilling the water canal, constructing the sides of the canal, constructing three footbridges linking the two banks of the canal, and constructing four marine transit stations to boost the role of marine transport as a convenient and effective transit means. Phase 3 also includes filling works to construct an artificial peninsula across the Jumeirah Park; which will double the length of the park beach, increase the area of the park, and offer room for adding more recreational activities.

Phase 3 value: AED 802million

Phase 3 contractor: Belhasa Six Construct

Project status: Site possession, identification of existing utilities

Expected date of completion: 2016; along with phases 1 and 2

A few anticipated challenges for the Contractors on-site:

Given that the 3 phases are expected to be completed, more or less, at the same time; one of the challenges that will be faced by the contractors is coordination of works among them especially at areas where the phases meet; or the construction activity of one contractor will require the completion of predecessor activity that is within the scope of works of another contractor.

A second challenge that may be faced by all contractors on site is the identification of existing, and ultimately the relocation, of existing utilities. The Safa Park area is a relatively old area that did not witness major construction works such as that planned for the Dubai Canal Project which means that there is always a risk of damaging existing utilities that have not been identified on the as-built drawings handed over to the contractors. Damaging of existing utilities normally incurs fines imposed by the authorities that operate those utilities, and therefore, all contractors on site should be adamant on identifying all those utilities in place by way of confirming visual site inspection, and trial trenches.

Given the proximity of the project to a live major highway, all contractors need to ensure high safety standards in all the temporary and permanent works they will be conducting which includes excavation, and road traffic diversion as examples. The last thing any contractor will want is to compromise the stability of the existing highway due to the foreseen construction works.