By Rezan Oueiti www.thenational.ae
RAS AL KHAIMAH // Camels wandering onto roads are a concern not only for motorists but for camel owners, too.
That is why Ras Al Khaimah is building its first camel underpass, on the fast and busy Al Shuhada road which connects the emirate with Fujariah.
Even though the number of vehicles hitting stray animals on roads fell between 2014 and last year, RAK’s Public Works and Services Department is building the 37-metre-long underpass as a way of reducing casualties.
The underpass is seven metres long and 3.6 metres high.
The number of vehicles that hit animals in RAK was 213 last year, down from 292 the previous year, said Captain Khalid Al Naqbi, head of the media department at RAK Police.
Eng Ahmed Al Hammadi, general director at PWSD, said: “The purpose of this project is to secure the movement of camels between the sides of Al Shuhada road, which is one of the fastest roads.”
The underpass is expected to be ready by the middle of the year.
Emirati camel owner Hamad Al Ghafli praised the underpass plan.
“It has a huge benefit for camel owners and it is important for the safety of motorists,” said the 28-year-old. “It will also reduce the number of run-over accidents.
“It also eases the process of transferring camels from side to side [of the road].” More info
