Sheikh Zayed Bridge, Arch road bridge in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
Sheikh Zayed Bridge spans 842 meters over the Maqta Channel, built from prestressed concrete with steel arches and cantilevered road decks. The structure rises 16 meters above the water and carries eight lanes of traffic across its width.
Construction began in 1997 after the old Maqta Bridge proved unable to handle growing traffic demands. The crossing opened in November 2010 following years of engineering work and design refinement.
The bridge connects Mainland Abu Dhabi with the island where the capital sits, serving thousands of commuters each day. Its sweeping curves echo the forms of desert dunes found throughout the Emirates.
Pedestrians and cyclists cross using dedicated pathways that run along the sides of the roadway. The full structure is easiest to view from the canal banks or nearby waterfront parks rather than while driving across.
Zaha Hadid designed the crossing with asymmetrical steel arches that rise and fall at different angles along its length. A dynamic lighting system transforms the appearance after sunset, casting shifting patterns across the concrete and steel.
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