UAE: 7 footbridges built by RTA now complete
For pedestrians crossing streets, the bridges offer a safe route of transportation.
The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) Director-General and Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors, Mattar Al Tayer, announced the opening of seven new footbridges in various parts of Dubai.
The bridges give pedestrians a safe way to cross streets, help Dubai become more bicycle-friendly, and advance the well-being of the community. Maximising these objectives will increase Dubai's citizens' and visitors' happiness.
One of the new footbridges crosses Al Khaleej Street between Omar Bin Khattab Street and Abu Bakr Al Siddique Street, close to Dubai Hospital. Additionally, 888 metres worth of additional footbridges are being built, totaling six across the emirate. Along with cutting-edge electromechanical systems, alarms, firefighting, and remote monitoring systems, the design placed a strong emphasis on the utilisation of aesthetically pleasing and novel components. There are designated bike paths and racks on the bridges.
Footbridge development is in line with Dubai's traffic safety plan, which aims to make the city the safest in the world in terms of traffic safety. Al Tayer added that the plan "also aims to provide infrastructure and safety measures for vehicles and bicycles in order to reduce fatalities from run-over accidents to as low as zero.
Numerous service facilities, including electric lifts, alarm and firefighting systems, remote monitoring, and others, are proof that the construction of these bridges complies with the highest international requirements for traffic safety. While building was underway, emphasis was placed on using artistic and innovative elements, according to Mattar Al Tayer.
From 13 in 2006 to 129 at the end of the previous year, the number of footbridges has increased more than tenfold during the previous 17 years. RTA plans to build 36 more footbridges between 2021 and 2026, bringing the overall number of pedestrian bridges to 165, according to Al Tayer.
Al Tayer advised locals, residents, and visitors to Dubai to cross streets using footbridges and subways. In order to protect their personal safety and the safety of other road users, he also advised drivers to obey speed restrictions and slow down at pedestrian crossings.