RTA starts maintenance of the Beirut Airport tunnel walls

Engineer Abdulla Al Ali, Director of Maintenance Department, said," This project is line with the Authority's commitment to carrying out regular maintenance work on all bridges, tunnels and roads in the Emirate. The maintenance of the tunnel which includes cleaning the tunnel wall has been directed by H.E Mattar Al Tayer, Chairman of the Board and Executive Director, RTA. The on-going maintenance work reflects our commitment to keep the roads and transport network in Dubai in the best condition, at minimum cost and in compliance with the highest standards of safety and quality."

The clean-up began by closing two lanes of the carriage way which start from Nadd Al Hammar Road to Al Tawar and has been taking place from 12 midnight to 6 in the morning and will be completed from Al Tawar to Al Hammar. The procedure includes the elimination of all traces of carbon which have settled on the walls, clearing of sand and other rubble along the carriageway and footpath and repainting of lanes.

"The tunnel accommodates around 16,000 vehicles an hour, i.e. 8000 in each direction. The electromechanical and civil engineering works of the Airport tunnel include an Intelligent transportation System comprising 12 electronic traffic sign boards installed at intersection (outside the tunnel), 13 traffic sign boards, 115 cameras for the authorities to keep a check on the traffic situation inside four power generators inside and two main generators located at the either ends of the tunnel, a special communication equipment for GSM to allow motorist to stay connected through their mobile phones. There are 401.6 tonne fans, 32 electronic units for detecting carbon monoxide levels. Besides, there are 75 emergency telephones along the walls of the tunnel, which is lit using 6583 lighting units, "added Abdulla.

The project involved excavation and removal of 2 million cubic meters of earth, while the body of the structure required 550,000 cubic meters of concrete and 1890 ramps each 22 meters long and weighing 66 tonnes. The inside walls have been covered with 80 collages made in 75000 cubic meters of marble.