UAE | Traffic and Transport

Abu Dhabi pedestrians to get 32 air-conditioned overbridges

New initiative aims to reduce road accidents at crowded areas.

  • By Binsal Abdul Kader, Staff Reporter
  • Published: 23:40 January 24, 2009
  • Gulf News

  • Abu Dhabi Municipality has installed six temporary pedestrian overbridges on Salam Street to reduce congestion.
  • Image Credit: Ahmed Kutty/Gulf News
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Abu Dhabi: 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.

Statistics

  • 200 - Pedestrians killed in the capital between March and November 2008
  • 8,262- Pedestrians fined for jaywalking from March to November 2008
  • 91 - Pedestrian deaths were reported in 2007
  • 647 - Pedestrians were involved in road accidents in 2007

    Do you welcome the addition of more pedestrian walkways in the Capital? In your experience, which areas require safe and comfortable crossings? Will the installation of air-conditioners motivate more people to use pedestrian bridges?


Your comments


This is an excellent idea from the authorities and I believe it will lessen the number of accidents involving pedestrians. I also think that putting a fence at the side of the road, which would prevent pedestrians from crossing the road, will force people to use the air conditioned bridges.
Francis Belisario
Abu Dhabi,UAE
Posted: January 25, 2009, 16:22

It's not always the driver's fault. Have you seen some of the people crossing the street that just run directly without looking left or right? Just like headless chicken! So, safety should start from every corner all.
Jey
Abu Dhabi,UAE
Posted: January 25, 2009, 16:00

I appreciate the move by the authorities to introduce these overbridge crossings.
Sajan Varghese
Abu Dhabi,UAE
Posted: January 25, 2009, 15:03

This would be a great idea for Dubai too. Crossing Shaikh Zayed Road is impossible for pedestrians. More pedestrians paths would help reduce some of the traffic and make walking a nicer experience.
Ben
Dubai,UAE
Posted: January 25, 2009, 13:33

Pedestrian Bridges will ruin the view of the city. The problem is with the people who don't follow the city rules and regulations and will blame the authorities for it.
John
Abu Dhabi,UAE
Posted: January 25, 2009, 10:59

Great idea! But, the bridges need to be located not too far apart otherwise they will not be used. At a maximum, say, 500 metres apart. They need to be located near residential areas, shopping areas, and parks. It would also be useful to bring them together with bus stops. Furthermore, the locations of the bridges need to be clearly signed in several languages, with direction arrows. What about cyclists? Cycling is a great way to curbing obesity and diabetes. The Salam Street development needs to include cycle tracks and foot bridges/underpasses as a must. Several are required on the Airport Road, and the 100km/hr Al Khaleej Al Arabi Street(30th), and without doubt the Shaikh Maktoum Highway in the area of Raha Beach where there have been fatal accidnts, too.
Roger Swainson
Abu Dhabi,UAE
Posted: January 25, 2009, 10:31

I would to suggest that the taxi stand in Abu Dhabi needs to have a pedestrian brigde. People just crossing and running all across the roads, not using the pedestrian crossing.
Eufrocina Bunag
Abu Dhabi,UAE
Posted: January 25, 2009, 09:23

Khalidiya Mall should be on the first priority for pedestrian over-bridge in Abu Dhabi. The same place where there has been a fatal accident.
Ravi Nair
Abu Dhabi,UAE
Posted: January 25, 2009, 09:22

Hi, I personally appreciate this decision taken by the Abu Dhabi Municipality. In this context, I would like to note some other places if it has not been considered by the Authority. The noted places where the proposed over bridges to be needed is:- 1.Fish Market area 2.Passport Road 3.Mark
P. Sugathan
Dubai,UAE
Posted: January 25, 2009, 09:21

Pedestrian bridges are very much necessary in places where there is no underpass. I would like to suggest one place where pedestrian bridge is required-between Airport Road and Passport Road-The road opposite to New AL THIQA office. There is no access to the two sides; we have to walk a long way to cross and that too from the signal. Please do consider this as we are using the bus.
Sajitha
Abu Dhabi,UAE
Posted: January 25, 2009, 08:16

Unfortunately, there are still some "uneducated" pedestrians they cross an eight-lane road with two small children under the bridge. It seems the present fine is not high enough to punish these people.
B. Peetz
Abu Dhabi,UAE
Posted: January 25, 2009, 07:47

I agree that cool, comfortable overpasses with escalators are an attractive alternative to scurrying across traffic-clogged streets in blistering heat... However, if what I believe to be arrogant drivers of massive automobiles paid even a little more attention to pedestrians, I'm sure more lives could be saved compared with the noble construction of any pedestrian bridge. Wake up, drivers. Some people choose to walk, perhaps for the better.
Matthew
Abu Dhabi,UAE
Posted: January 25, 2009, 03:39

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