Here we were thinking that Minnesota's next-gen St. Anthony Falls Bridge was kicking up the next generation of mega engineering a notch from even the quake-proof Bay Bridge Skyway. But leave it to Dubai to build it way harder, faster and stronger—or, at least in the case of this newly approved design from New York's Fxfowle architects, way cooler.
...this as-yet-unnamed span will be the world's largest arch bridge, with 2000 vehicles set to cross its 12 lanes—per hour, in each direction—when it's slated for completion in 2012. At 670 ft. tall, Dubai's next super structure will stand higher than the George Washington Bridge (604 ft.) but fall short of San Francisco's existing Golden Gate Bridge (746 ft.).
Source
...this as-yet-unnamed span will be the world's largest arch bridge, with 2000 vehicles set to cross its 12 lanes—per hour, in each direction—when it's slated for completion in 2012. At 670 ft. tall, Dubai's next super structure will stand higher than the George Washington Bridge (604 ft.) but fall short of San Francisco's existing Golden Gate Bridge (746 ft.).
Source
Beautiful!
ReplyDeleteAmazing.
ReplyDeleteLet's have a naming competition!
I'm thinking that it will be named after Sheikh Hamdan!
lol nzm! I think it will be 'Dubai'-something. But I won't be surprised if your prediction came true!
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteSpectacular design, thanks for sharing MD!
ReplyDeleteBtw that little iceberg in the middle (right side of the top photo) is going to be Dubai opera house.
Arched bridges are not new, check out this beautiful pedestrian bridge in Spain for instance…
Keefieboy, since you live in Spain; you might have seen it while visiting Bilbao (if you ever did visit Bilbao. If not, then maybe this will intrigue you a little bit to go…:))..
Nice!
ReplyDeleteFor me, this is the best example of architecture I've seen proposed for Dubai. Perhaps the Opera House too, whatever - world class design I think.
ReplyDeleteThat is indeed marvellous.
ReplyDeleteAnd all you losers in Dubai complained about the Salik tags and what not !
Salik money well spend.
Bravo RTA.
shezy: well, I hope that they spend good money coming up with an effective way to get traffic to and from the opera house. From the illustration, it could be a nightmare, plus all the extra reinforcement and soundproofing it's going to require, being so close to the roadway.
ReplyDeleteDramatic and evocative and hugely expensive. Seems Dubai has eventually buttoned onto the organo-deconstructivist movement after all.
ReplyDeleteI hope they don't screw up this bridge like the one they are building over IC3 for the Metro.
Non-member commenting is going to be moderated through this weekend; this means that if you are not a member of this blog and you post a message it will not be published until I access blogger and publish comments (on sunday). No member comments should be affected
ReplyDeleteSam, we are truly grateful for the censorship service you selflessly provide to the UAE blogging community.
ReplyDeleteYou now truly deserve a weekend break from your exhausting duty. Have a good one.
stunning - i would call it the water snake..
ReplyDeleteYes, it is quite stunning. I just hope people realize, the bridge probably shall have a toll, say Dhs 10? to help cover construction and/or continued maintenance costs.
ReplyDeleteReal Nick: I don't know why Sam has decided to restrict commenting, but I do know he's a sensible chap who is watching his ass, and he will have a valid reason. Ultimately, any bad poo that gets published here is his responsibility. He'd be the one in jail if the invisible lines were crossed.
ReplyDeleteDubai Jazz: that bridge looks like the work of Santiago Calatrava. Bilbao is very high on my list of places to visit in Spain - especially the Guggenheim Museum.
ReplyDeleteLol !
ReplyDeleteActually I was being sarcastic !
Keefieboy, good luck with the trip!
ReplyDeleteThe Guggenheim Museum is an impressive piece of art; designed by Frank O' Gehry; one of the pioneering de-constructivists Real Nick mentioned earlier….
DJ When did Frank Gehry become Irish? ;-) LOL!
ReplyDeleteHe's a favourite of mine. To my disgust, NZ passed up on his offer to design a museum for the capital, and so we got an ugly box building.
NZM, :-)
ReplyDeleteThey taught us in college that his name is Frank O. Gehry...that's how he's mentioned in the old archives I think...
Either way, he's a genius!
ReplyDeleteGood to find that you also appreciate his work - he's a living legend.
Frank Lloyd O'Wright is also another favourite! ;-)
Frank Loyld O' Wright? lol
ReplyDeleteTo put it short NZM, Bill O'Reilly is the only irish dude that I dislike, all the others are good!