9 footbridges coming up in Capital

The Abu Dhabi Municipality has started construction of nine footbridges in the internal and external locations of the Abu Dhabi Island with a total cost of Dh35.2 million. The municipality has so far completed up to 61 per cent of construction work of nine temporary footbridges on the main streets at different locations. The step comes in the context of the municipality’s drive to ensure the highest standards of traffic security and safety for pedestrians. Abdullah Saeed Al Shamsi, acting Executive Director of Municipal Infrastructure and Assets Sector, said that the project will enhance the standards of traffic safety for pedestrians and vehicle users. It also coincides with the urban, economic expansion together with the emergence of many economic and commercial areas and markets, which required the provision of alternatives and safe pathways for pedestrians to avoid accidents and ensure smooth vehicular flow in a safe traffic environment. Al Shamsi said this is in view to ensure safe and smooth transit for pedestrians in a number of main streets, especially in those places experiencing frequent pedestrian accidents as a result of jaywalking. The locations of these new footbridges were specified in full collaboration with the Abu Dhabi Police, the Department of Transport and Abu Dhabi Urban Planning Council in order to realise all objectives underlining the construction of these bridges., he said. The construction of these footbridges are going on at the main bus station across Al Muroor Street, Carrefour across the Airport Street, Musaffah Street, opposite Dalma Mall across the Musaffah Street, in Bahia across Dubai Road, in Al Shahama across the Dubai Road, and opposite to the University of Abu Dhabi across Al Ain Road. While the eighth footbridge is located at Bani Yas across Al Ain Road, the ninth footbridge is opposite to Mushrif Mall across the Airport Street. Al Shamsi called on all community members to cooperate with the municipality and the bodies concerned in order to optimise the utilisation of these footbridges upon completion in the context of the municipality’s efforts to protect pedestrians from road risks. He indicated that maintaining the cleanliness and modern appearance of footbridges is a common objective that the municipality hopes to achieve in cooperation with the community.