UAE | Traffic and Transport

Dubai to get 100 pedestrian bridges by 2012

More than 100 pedestrian bridges by 2012 will include 47 metro station bridges when all the Metro stations on the Red and the Green Line open by the end of 2011

  • By Ashfaq Ahmed, Chief Reporter
  • Published: 00:00 March 22, 2010

A pedestrian bridge in Rashidiya
  • Image Credit: Hadrian Hernandez/Gulf News
  • A pedestrian bridge in Rashidiya. The Roads and Transport Authority plans to reduce accidents involving pedestrians by 30 per cent and increase pedestrian traffic by 20 per cent by 2012.
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Dubai: Dubai will have more than 100 pedestrian bridges within the next two years, Gulf News has learnt.

The move comes as part of Dubai Pedestrian Safety and Mobility Action Plan launched by the Dubai Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) at the end of 2008. The plan involves infrastructure and policy improvements to create a safe walking culture.

The three-year-goal of the plan is to reduce pedestrian accidents by 30 per cent and achieve an increase of 20 per cent in pedestrian traffic by 2012.

"We are well on track as we will have around 100 pedestrian bridges in addition to tens of dozens of normal crossings by 2012 compared to 16 pedestrian bridges in 2007," a senior RTA official told Gulf News.

He added that the RTA built eight pedestrian bridges in 2008, bringing the total number to 22. The number of pedestrian bridges increased to 40 by the end of 2009, including the bridges linked to the Dubai Metro stations.

The official said that construction on at least 16 pedestrian bridges is on the cards. There are slight changes in the specifications and the completion time has been extended. The more than 100 pedestrian bridges by 2012 will include 47 metro station bridges when all the Metro stations on the Red and the Green Line open by the end of 2011.

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Most of the new bridges will be air-conditioned and have escalators and elevators. Existing crossings will be replaced with new ones in phases.

"Our long-term vision is to have ‘zero fatalities' with regard to pedestrian fatalities from the road network," the official added.

According to RTA statistics, 69 pedestrians were killed on Dubai Roads in 2001. There were 145 deaths in 2007, which accounted for 44 per cent of the total road fatalities.

Pedestrian fatalities dropped 27 per cent to 106 in 2008 and fell to 70 in 2009, thanks to new pedestrian bridges and zebra crossings equipped with signals.

"Reduced pedestrian fatalities is a big achievement and we are well on target to make Dubai pedestrian-friendly city," said the official.

Pedestrians have been warned that crossing the road in undesignated areas, especially on a road that has a speed limit above 80 km per hour, carries a fine of Dh200.

Mattar Al Tayer, Chairman of the Board and Executive Director of the RTA said: "The excellent cooperation and coordination between the RTA and the Ministry of Interior, Dubai Police General HQ and driving institutes has resulted in a drop in traffic accidents fatality rate in Dubai from 21 cases per 100,000 of population in 2005 to about 12.7 cases per 100,000 cases of population in 2009."

Have you found the new pedestrian bridges useful? Which other roads should have pedestrian bridges?

Comments (4)

  1. Added 23:08 March 22, 2010

    I think they should implement this idea in Sharjah as well. Also, people in Sharjah, especially the labor class, REALLY need to be educated on the dangers of jaywalking.

    Anonymous, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates

  2. Added 17:47 March 22, 2010

    This is great news. There have been many times when I have wanted to walk, but couldn't because there was simply no way to cross a major road. Hopefully this initiative will reduce unnecessary car use and help create a walking culture as intended.

    Anonymous, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

  3. Added 15:19 March 22, 2010

    please can you make pedestrian bridges in Al quoz area, Especially near Grand Mall & Grand city Mall. and Jabel ali industrial area to Jabel ali village. Lot of accident happing there.

    Mohammad, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

  4. Added 10:42 March 22, 2010

    There is one traffic light crossing in Al Nahda, Sharjah that leads to the entrance to Safeer Market (Safeer Mall). The road is 90% always busy, even at night, many use the road. The traffic light has been deliberately disabled by the authorities. It only flashes yellow. I think to keep traffic flow. However, authorities expect the cars to stop to let pedestrians cross. Some do, most do not. It's a daily nightmare to cross the road. Some who stop break hard, and horn and are abusive. Our only crime is to want to cross the road, but because the drivers have to stop they get irritated. It's happened to me and i've seen others, the drivers try to run you over to intimidate you from crossing and then laugh. Simply switch the traffic light on to working order, so that people can wait for the light to go red and cross in safety.

    Mohammad Ali Nazeer, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates

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