The Road & Transport Authority of the UAE has awarded a contract to construct four covered and air-conditioned footbridges for Dubai Tram users.

Two bridges will be constructed over Al Safouh Street to serve tram users and residents at both sides of the street, and the other two will link Tecom zone with the locality in the opposite side of the street as well as the Dubai Marina Mall, thus providing safe transit means for street crossing in those busy areas.

“The construction of new projects stems from RTA’s keenness on improving and upgrading main roads network in Dubai city, maintaining the safety of pedestrians, linking business and residential neighbourhood, and minimizing run-over accidents. All of these new bridges will be covered, air-conditioned and fitted with electric elevators/escalators,’ said Mattar Al Tayer, chairman of the board and executive director of the RTA.

“They also boast of architectural design patterns compatible with the eye-catching designs of the tram coaches and stations as well as the urban appearance of residential units at the locality. Attention has also been made to offering high levels of convenience to users through the installation of lifts and slipways for wheelchairs users among special needs and seniors,” said Al Tayer.

“The RTA assigns paramount attention to road users, particularly pedestrians, and is keen on providing safe transit means for them while crossing roads,” he continued.

“Positioning the bridges was guided on traffic studies built on the intensity of population movement between the two sides of the street, locations of corporate & retail facilities, and sites that saw increasing number of run-over accidents (black points).

“The RTA has so far constructed 94 pedestrian bridges, including footbridges of the Dubai Metro stations. Work is up-and-running in the construction of 11 bridges, seven of which have been opened and the remaining four are set for opening as early as next month. According to its master plan for pedestrian bridges and traffic safety, the RTA will release a tender for constructing 7 pedestrian bridges this year,” added Al Tayer.


The RTA approved last year a plan for constructing 17 pedestrian bridges in 2013 – 2016 spanning various vital locations in Dubai Emirate.

In the initial stage (2013 – 2014), nine bridges will be constructed costing about Dh45 million ($12.24 million). In the second phase (2015 – 2016), eight footbridges will be constructed in several key locations. – TradeArabia News Service