The Roads and Transport Authority has installed the first footbridge for Dubai Metro station users near Jebel Ali Industrial area on Sheikh Zayed Road.
"A total of 20 footbridges will be installed at metro stations to help people cross the busiest highway in the emirate to ride the metro," said Adnan Al Hammadi, director of construction at the RTA's Rail Agency. He said one bridge will be installed every week on Sheikh Zayed Road. He explained that each of the 47 metro stations will have pedestrian bridges either elevated or underground. The installation work for the pedestrian bridges will be completed by May 2009.
"The footbridges will provide 24-hour, air-conditioned and spacious public thoroughfares along the Red and Green lines of the Dh15.5 billion Dubai Metro Project," said Al Hammadi.
The Dubai Metro, the world's largest driverless metro project, consists of two lines, the Red and the Green. The Red Line is scheduled to be operational from September 9, 2009 while the Green Line will be opened in March 2010. He said each bridge will feature moving walkways and escalators. The bridges will be open for use by the general public to cross the roads whether they use the metro or not.
According to Al Hammadi, the planning for the installation of the footbridges, which are being provided under the Dubai Metro Contract, has been going on for well over a year now. A dedicated footbridge installation task force was assigned with heavy involvement from the Dubai Metro Contractor, RTA Rail Agency, RTA's Traffic and Roads Agency and Dubai Police to investigate how to install the footbridges and identify the optimal solution.
The key objective during installation is to minimise disruption to the public, while ensuring that their safety, as well as that of Dubai Metro workers, is not compromised. The approved installation method involves full pre-assembly of the footbridge including the main structure of the bridge, the external cladding, internal fixtures and finishes, and electrical and mechanical items.
Since the resulting weight of the pre-assembled footbridges is well in excess of 200 tonnes, special self-propelled modular transporters (SPMT's), pneumatic lifting jacks and adjustable temporary bearings will be used to transport the footbridges into position and lift them onto their permanent support. The installation of each bridge will be done at night during a period of low traffic with traffic control of Sheikh Zayed Road. – Gulf News
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