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Heavy rain cracks bridge in RAK

Torrential rains have caused a minor crack in a year-old bridge in RAK, although the police say oversized trucks using the bridge are also to blame.

Dhait bridge has been closed temporarily.

A RAK traffic patrol on Saturday discovered a 50cm long crack in the Dhait bridge, leaking water from the upper part of the bridge to the lower part.

The RAK Police alerted the Department of Public Works and Services, which ordered the temporary closure of the bridge.

According to a police source, rain puddles were noticed along the left lane of the three-lane bridge which made it necessary to close the bridge to prevent traffic accidents. He said the crack was discovered in the lower part of the 13-metre bridge located near the Cove Rotana Hotel. “Many motorists complained about the accumulating rain water down the bridge.”

The official noted the main reason behind the crack was the heavy trucks which started running on the bridge since it was inaugurated at the end of 2012. “Most of these trucks do not abide by the weight limit.”

The excessive weight of the trucks, along with the torrential rains, have led to the crack. “Lorries weighing over 40 tonnes were denied access to the bridge few months ago to protect it,” he said.

Meanwhile, the people of Shaml, Dhaya, Rams, Beih, and other areas of the emirate, having been heavily impacted by the rains have urged the authorities concerned to adopt a specific mechanism to better prevent and deal with such situations in the future.

Mohammed Al Shamili, an Emirati of Shaml area, has called for a unified rescue toll number for emergency cases. The RAK Traffic and Patrols department of the RAK Police blocked all the roads and streets leading to the valleys of Al Beih, Ghalila and Haqeel, which were most hit by the showers.

Brigadier Ghanim Ahmed Ghanim, Director-General of the Central Operations at the RAK Police, urged residents to be careful. “People are urged to immediately call police on 072356611; 072356600; 072356998; or 072356999 in cases of emergency,” he said.