Dubai: The Dubai Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has achieved another milestone on the construction of Dubai Metro with the completion of tunnelling work on both the Red and the Green Lines.
“The tunnelling work has been completed and the tunnel boring machines named Al Wugeisha have been dismantled,” said Engineer Adnan Al Hammadi, Director of Construction of Dubai Metro at the RTA’s Rail Agency.
He said the construction of the 12.6km underground tracks for the Dubai Metro was the most critical phase of the 74.6km-long project. “The metro track goes underground in the Central Business District on both sides of the Dubai Creek and runs under the buildings, road corridors and also passes under the creek waters at two locations,” Al Hammadi added. He reiterated that the Dubai Metro project is well on schedule and the Red Line will open for public transport on September 9. The Green Line is scheduled to open in March next year.
One of the longest tunnels is between the Burjuman Centre and the Union Square Stations, which are the two largest underground stations on the metro network. These two stations are also called “transfer” stations where the Red and the Green Lines will cross each other. Some 1.479km-long tunnel, which also passes under the creek to connect these two stations.
The tunnel that connects Union Square Station to Riqqa Underground Station is 948 metres long while the length of the tunnel that connects Riqqa Station to Deira City Centre Station is 1,168 metres.
The total length of underground metro on the 52.1km long Red Line is 4.7km. The excavation diameter of the tunnel is 9.6 metres and its internal diameter is 8.5 metres.
Al Hammadi said around 90 per cent work on the Red Line has been completed and some 55 per cent of the Green Line. Some 44 trains have already arrived at the Jebel Ali Depot in Dubai and are being tested.
Race against time: Some critical work left
There are a few works yet to be done on the Dubai Metro which the entire project team is committed to completing on time, said Engineer Adnan Al Hammadi, Director of Construction for Dubai Metro at the RTA’s Rail Agency.
He said one of the main work to be completed on the Red Line are the completion of fittings and cladding of installations at the stations and entrance pods. Work on viaduct emergency evacuation staircases, access roads to the stations and cladding of installation at the car parks and depots are also yet to be completed. “We are all set to start on schedule,” he added.
By Ashfaq Ahmed, Chief Reporter, www.gulfnews.com
Published: April 14, 2009, 23:12
