RTA awards contract to construct 4 air-conditioned pedestrian bridges for Dubai tram

The Board of Directors of the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), chaired by Mattar Al Tayer, Chairman of the Board and Executive Director, endorsed the award of a contract to construct 4 covered and air-conditioned footbridges for Dubai Tram users. Two bridges will be constructed over Al Safouh Street to serve tram users and residents at both sides of the Street, and the other two will link Tecom zone with the locality in the opposite side of the street as well as the Dubai Marina Mall, thus providing safe transit means for street crossing in those busy areas. "The construction of new projects stems from RTA's keenness on improving and upgrading main roads network in Dubai city, maintaining the safety of pedestrians, linking business and residential neighbourhood, and minimizing run-over accidents. All of these new bridges will be covered, air-conditioned and fitted with electric elevators/escalators. They also boast of architectural design patterns compatible with the eye-catching designs of the tram coaches and stations as well as the urban appearance of residential units at the locality. Attention has also been made to offering high levels of convenience to users through the installation of lifts and slipways for wheelchairs users among special needs and seniors," said Al Tayer. "The RTA assigns paramount attention to road users, particularly pedestrians, and is keen on providing safe transit means for them while crossing roads. Positioning the bridges was guided on traffic studies built on the intensity of population movement between the two sides of the street, locations of corporate and retail facilities, and sites that saw increasing number of run-over accidents (black points). "The RTA has so far constructed 94 pedestrian bridges, including footbridges of the Dubai Metro stations. Work is up-and-running in the construction of 11 bridges, 7 of which have been opened and the remaining 4 are set for opening as early as next month. According to its master plan for pedestrian bridges and traffic safety, the RTA will release a tender for constructing 7 pedestrian bridges this year," added Al Tayer. It is worth-mentioning that the RTA has approved last year a plan for constructing 17 pedestrian bridges in 2013 - 2016 spanning various vital locations in Dubai Emirate. In the initial stage (2013 - 2014), 9 bridges will be constructed costing about 45 million dirham. Bridges spread over a number of vital areas, namely: two footbridges at Bani Yas Road (one near the building of the Dubai Municipality), and a bridge at each of Damascus Road (near the Public Library), Al Mina Road, Baghdad Road, Al Maktoum Road, Al Khawaneej Road (near Arabian Center), Al Khail Road (near Al Qouz Industrial Area), and a bridge near Emirates Towers. In the second phase (2015 - 2016), 8 footbridges will be constructed in several key locations, namely: two bridges at Al Awir Road, and one bridge at each of Amman, Meydan, Damascus, Al Khawaneej, Al Quds and Doha Roads. Among the bridges recently completed by the RTA is a pedestrian bridge over Al Saada Street opposite to the Dubai World Trade Center (Conventions Center), spanning 92 meters and fitted with two lifts at each side in order to handle the huge number of visitors of the Center. Two bridges have also been completed; the first is over the Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road (near the Fruits and Vegetables Market at Al Awir) stretching 100 meters, and the second is near Workers Accommodation at Muhaisnah spanning 86 km. RTA Chairman of the Board and Executive Director called on citizens and residents of Dubai to use footbridges '&' subways designated for crossing roads, and urged drivers to abide by the speed limits and slowdown at the approaches of pedestrian crossings for their own safety and the safety of road users.