The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) announced the start of construction works in seven footbridges in six roads; namely 2 bridges on Baghdad Street and one bridge on each of Al Maktoum Road, Al Mina Street, Amman Road, Baniyas Road and Al Rasheed Road. Works in these bridges are expected to be accomplished during the first half of 2016.

The RTA has completed the construction of 22 pedestrian bridges in 2013 and 2014; which would bring the total number of pedestrian bridges constructed by 2016 to 107 pedestrian bridges.

Mattar Al Tayer, Chairman of the Board and Executive Director of the RTA , said: "The construction of pedestrian bridges stems from RTA 's commitment to provide safe transit means for pedestrians crossing roads. The new bridges to be constructed in a number of vital locations are selected in the light of traffic studies based on a number of perimeters such as traffic intensity, number of accidents & fatalities, maximum speed limit, number of lanes, population density on roadsides, distance to the nearest footbridge, location of bus stops, availability of markets & organisations, and locations witnessing high proportion of run-over accidents (Black Points).

"Over the past two years the RTA constructed 22 footbridges in a number of vital locations including two bridges at Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road (one near Fruits & Vegetables Market, and the other near workers complex at Al Qusais), three bridges at Umm Suqeim, two bridges at each of Al Asayel Road and the First Al Khail Road, and one bridge at each of Sheikh Rashid Road, Al Saada Road, Al Mina Road, Al Wuhaida Road, Amman Road, Al Rasheed Road, Al Mankhool Road, Latifa bint Hamdan Road, Abu Baker Al Siddique Road, Al Khaleej Road, Al Ribat Road, and the JLT," explained Al Tayer.

"The number of pedestrian bridges in Dubai has soared from 14 bridges in 2006 to 74 in 2011 and jumped further to reach 100 bridges by the end of 2014, and the number is set to rise further to 107 in mid-2016. These bridges contributed to recording the lowest rate of pedestrian fatalities on Dubai roads over 20 years. Statistics indicate pedestrian fatalities dropped from 9.5 fatalities per 100 thousand of population in 2007 to 7 fatalities per 100 thousand of population in 2010 and dropped further in 2014 to its lowest rate of one fatality per 100 thousand of population.

"Pedestrian bridges constructed on five main roads are Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road, Umm Suqeim Road, Al Rebat Road, Al Asayel Road and First Al Khail Road have recorded zero fatality following the installation of footbridges in 2013 and 2014, compared to seven fatalities on those roads before the installation of pedestrian bridges, whereas the number of pedestrian-related accidents on the same roads dropped from 19 to 9," continued the Chairman of the Board and Executive Director of the RTA .

Al Tayer called on community members, both citizens & residents, to use pedestrian bridges and subways, and urged motorists to abide by the speed limits, and slowdown at pedestrian crossing points for their own safety and the safety of road users.

The RTA is adopting specific standards in designing and constructing pedestrian bridges in the Emirate of Dubai based on traffic studies that give due consideration to population density in the area, speed of the road, services provided at roadsides, and the number of traffic accidents recorded. Accordingly, solutions concluded in those studies are transformed into technical and traffic projects that might be in the shape of pedestrian bridges, and pedestrian crossings fitted with light signals or speed-calming devices such as humps. – Emirates News Agency, WAM –