Abu Dhabi's Sheikh Zayed Bridge win celebrated

Washington - Jan 26, 2012 (WAM) - The International Road Federation (IRF) held a ceremony here Tuesday to present representatives of the Municipality of Abu Dhabi with the Global Road Achievement Award (GRAA) in the Design Category which was won by Sheikh Zayed Bridge in Abu Dhabi. The bridge which was constructed by the Municipality of Abu Dhabi has become a grandeur landmark for the UAE's capital city is named after the late founding father of the UAE Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al-Nahyan. GRAA is accorded by the UN-recognized the International Roads Federation. In attendance at the lunch banquet at Mayflower Hotel in Washington were Engineer Abdullah Al Shamsi, acting executive director of Roads, Municipal Infrastructure and Assets Sector at the Municipality of Abu Dhabi City, and Obaid Omar Al-Shamsi, Plenipotentiary and Deputy Head of the UAE Mission in Washington. The ceremony also honoured the late Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan. The UAE delegation to Washington dedicated the award to the country's top leadership, namely President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and His Highness General Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces. The 2011 Global Road Achievement Awards program is a worldwide contest held to identify and honour excellence, innovation, and exceptional achievements in 12 key categories in the transport and infrastructure industry. The bridge was inaugurated by President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan in November 2010. Named after the country's principal architect Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the 842 meter long bridge is said to be the most intricate bridge ever constructed. Its curved design arches evoke undulating sand dunes of the desert. The bridge which was designed by renowned Iraqi-British architect Zaha Hadid features - besides its striking architecture - a dynamic lighting design that is based on subtle colours that flow across the bridge's spine, symbolizing the connecting nature of the bridge and the energy that the capital city Abu Dhabi radiates. The bridge is the third traffic route connecting the mainland to the island of Abu Dhabi and the new main gateway over the Maqta channel. - Emirates News Agency, WAM