Dubai to have 105 footbridges by 2016

Work on 13 of the 31 planned footbridges has begun in Dubai, the Roads and Transport Authority said on Monday. Construction will take place over the next five years.

The total number of pedestrian bridges constructed in Dubai soared to 74 by the end of last year. The number of pedestrian is set to reach 105 by 2016.

Two pedestrian bridges will come up on Emirates Road, one near the Fruits and Vegetables Market and the other near a workers’ accommodation at Al Aweer. Other bridges are located in Al Mina, Sheikh Rashid, Umm Suqeim, Al Wuhaidah, Amman, Latifa bint Hamdan, Abu Baker Al Siddique and Al Khaleej Roads.

The bridges will be fitted with modern electrical facilities featuring designs inspired by the traditional landmarks of the emirate. Some will depict contemporary patterns of modern cities.

‘‘The technical and engineering procedures taken by the agency in pedestrian facilities will be subjected to stringent traffic safety rules fully aligned with the best international practices and standards currently adopted for the safety of road users, which is why Dubai ranks higher than many other cities in the advanced world in terms of the infrastructure built for serving pedestrians,” Maitha Bin Adai, Executive Director of the Traffic and Roads Agency at RTA said.

Two pedestrian bridges were opened this year; the first one in Abu Baker Al Siddique Road, and the other in Emirates Hills.

During the past two years, RTA opened many other footbridges in Khalid bin Al Waleed, Al Mankhool, Bani Yas, Damascus, Al Rasheed, and Al Rabat Roads in addition to Abu Baker Al Siddique Road.

“The Traffic & Roads Agency is working in line with specific standards set for the design and construction of pedestrian bridges in Dubai roads such as commissioning of traffic studies that give due consideration to population density of the area, road speed, and service facilities on both roadsides. Solutions figured out by such studies are being translated into technical and traffic projects for pedestrian bridges, pedestrian crossings, or light signals.’’

Maitha spoke of traffic awareness campaigns and said many residents, especially Asian workers, are unaware of traffic safety rules.

She said the key challenge is to educate them on the importance of using pedestrian crossings, tunnels, and bridges in order to avoid run-over accidents.

The RTA often runs awareness campaigns for workers in Jebel Ali, Al Qouz and Sonapur.

news@khaleejtimes.com

• UAE