I would like to invite the attention of the authorities to the bad state of the bridge near Al Jazeera Park, Sharjah.
A civil engineer by profession with a passion for photography, I like taking pictures of buildings and bridges. I was recently taking pictures of landmarks near the park when I noticed serious structural damage to its deck slab.
I went below the bridge to get a clearer view of the other side and in the process took some photos of the bridge, too. Standing below the bridge and gazing up at its deck slab, I was shocked to see that the concrete had fallen off in many places. Additionally, I found that the steel reinforcement was exposed, and was almost completely rusted and damaged.
It is very clear that the quality of the concrete has deteriorated on the slab. The damaged steel bars pose a huge risk to the safety of the bridge [and may] lead to structural failure, eventually.
This bridge is along one of the main roads between Sharjah and Dubai, with heavy traffic round the clock. In addition, boats frequently ply below the bridge, and passengers risk injury from falling concrete or plaster.
I am surprised to note that despite a relatively well-maintained public infrastructure network in Sharjah, this serious situation has gone unnoticed to date.
Concrete structures without proper maintenance will in time lose strength. We request the authorities to take necessary steps to improve the safety of the bridge and avoid any future calamities.
The reader is a project engineer, based in Sharjah.
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