ID :
42575
Sun, 01/25/2009 - 13:08
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/42575
The shortlink copeid
Abu Dhabi pedestrians to get 32 air-conditioned overbridges
Abu Dhabi, Jan 25, 2009 (WAM) - Abu Dhabi Municipality will construct 32 state-of-the-art air-conditioned pedestrian over- bridges with escalators all over the city, aiming to reduce the number of accidents involving pedestrians, a senior official told Gulf News.
"We have finalised the design. It is a huge project and we have already invited tenders," said Abdullah Al Shamsi, director of Roads and Infrastructure Department of Abu Dhabi Municipality.
"I cannot mention a time frame for the completion of the project at this stage," the official said.
Asked to comment on the complaints from residents about the long walk over the existing, lengthy pedestrian subways and over-bridges, he said air-conditioning and elevators in the new over-bridges will help put an end to all such complaints.
"Those comfortable facilities will attract pedestrians to use the over-bridges rather than risking their lives by jaywalking," he said.
Al Shamsi said all the bridges will come up in crowded areas. There will be two bridges on the Corniche Road, one near Al Makhta Bridge and Zayed Sports City and another on Al Khaleej-Al Arabi road. Many accidents, involving pedestrians, had occurred on these roads, the official said.
"We are identifying other locations based on the data from Abu Dhabi Police on accidents involving pedestrians," Al Shamsi added.
The municipality's Traffic Control Centre is analysing the data on pedestrian movements to finalise the other locations for these over-bridges, he said. Final decisions in this regard will be taken based on factors such as support to the vehicular movement and availability of land for construction, the official explained.
"It must be a comprehensive solution to help pedestrian and vehicular traffic movement," he explained.
Al Shamsi said six temporary pedestrian over- bridges had been installed on Salam Street, considering the existing diversions. Steel bridges have been installed on the road between Tourist Club Area and Abu Dhabi Mall.
Residents welcomed the latest initiative. "Many people used to complain that our streets were not pedestrian-friendly," said Mohammad Al Hosani, an Emirati businessman.
"Pedestrians will [now] feel secure and comfortable with the new bridges, while drivers will not need to worry about jaywalkers at crowded places," he added.
"We have finalised the design. It is a huge project and we have already invited tenders," said Abdullah Al Shamsi, director of Roads and Infrastructure Department of Abu Dhabi Municipality.
"I cannot mention a time frame for the completion of the project at this stage," the official said.
Asked to comment on the complaints from residents about the long walk over the existing, lengthy pedestrian subways and over-bridges, he said air-conditioning and elevators in the new over-bridges will help put an end to all such complaints.
"Those comfortable facilities will attract pedestrians to use the over-bridges rather than risking their lives by jaywalking," he said.
Al Shamsi said all the bridges will come up in crowded areas. There will be two bridges on the Corniche Road, one near Al Makhta Bridge and Zayed Sports City and another on Al Khaleej-Al Arabi road. Many accidents, involving pedestrians, had occurred on these roads, the official said.
"We are identifying other locations based on the data from Abu Dhabi Police on accidents involving pedestrians," Al Shamsi added.
The municipality's Traffic Control Centre is analysing the data on pedestrian movements to finalise the other locations for these over-bridges, he said. Final decisions in this regard will be taken based on factors such as support to the vehicular movement and availability of land for construction, the official explained.
"It must be a comprehensive solution to help pedestrian and vehicular traffic movement," he explained.
Al Shamsi said six temporary pedestrian over- bridges had been installed on Salam Street, considering the existing diversions. Steel bridges have been installed on the road between Tourist Club Area and Abu Dhabi Mall.
Residents welcomed the latest initiative. "Many people used to complain that our streets were not pedestrian-friendly," said Mohammad Al Hosani, an Emirati businessman.
"Pedestrians will [now] feel secure and comfortable with the new bridges, while drivers will not need to worry about jaywalkers at crowded places," he added.
