The Board of Directors of the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has endorsed a plan to construct 19 pedestrian bridges in 2014 and 2015 in various vital parts of Dubai. According to the plan, seven bridges will be constructed this year, and the remaining 12 bridges are set for construction next year. "Constructing footbridges stems from the commitment of the RTA to provide safe means for pedestrians to cross roads. The new bridges will be constructed in a number of vital locations that have been identified in traffic studies focused on the dense movement of people between the two sides of the road, areas with abundant shops and organizations, and locations recording high run-over accidents (black points)," said Mattar Al Tayer, RTA Chairman of the Board and Executive Director. "During April, RTA will start the construction of seven pedestrian bridges, five of which will be fitted with lifts, including a bridge on Bani Yas Street near the Marina, a bridge on Al Mina Street, two bridges on Baghdad Street; the first near the Pakistani School, and the second near the Aqua Park, and one bridge at each of Al Maktoum Street, Amman Street, and Al Rasheed Street. The new bridges will be completed in the last quarter of 2015." "Next year the RTA will construct 12 pedestrian bridges distributed over a number of vital locations including Bani Yas Street near Dubai Municipality building and a bridge on Damascus and Al Nahada Streets. The RTA adopts specific standards in designing and constructing pedestrian bridges in Dubai Emirate through carrying out traffic studies that address population density, driving speed, services provided on both sides of the road and the number of traffic accidents in the area. Depending on the solutions concluded in those studies, deliverables are reflected in the form of technical and traffic projects such as pedestrian bridges, signalized pedestrian crossing areas, humps, and speed calming devices among others," added Al Tayer Al Tayer noted that RTA has recently completed the construction of 13 footbridges comprising a pedestrian bridge on Al Saada Street opposite to the World Trade Center (Conventions Hall) spanning 92 meters and fitted it with two lifts in each direction to accommodate the huge number of visitors to the Center. It has also completed the construction of two bridges on the Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road, the first is near the Fruits and Vegetables Market stretching 100 meters, and the second is near Workers Quarters at Muhaisnah extending 86 meters. The authority has also constructed other bridges on Al Mina Street, Sheikh Rashid Street, Umm Suqeim Street, Al Whuhaida Street, Amman Street, Latifa bint Hamdan Street, Abu Baker Al Siddique Street, Al Khaleej Street (Deira City Center Metro Station), Al Munkhool Street, and Al Rasheed Street, besides constructing lifts for the existing bridge at Al Nahdah