As if the construction of the Metro and reconstruction of Interchange 1 aren't going to cause enough problems on Sheikh Zayed Road, here comes the latest news . . . they will soon be bridging the highway over the new Creek extension somewhere between Interchanges 1 and 2.
What is truly amazing is the fact that they are only now considering how to do this.
“Crossing the Sheikh Zayed Road wasn’t considered in the early design stage – it wasn’t something they could decide early on, as it could only be done after extensive consultation with the various parties involved as to what the best solution would be – and even that hasn’t been communicated down to site level yet,” said Shreedhar Natarajan, resident engineer, Halcrow.
Seabee has blogged in the past about the (lack of) planning process in Dubai. Seems like this is another example of "build now, plan later".
I wonder if the guys who bid the Metro project were told?
Yes, a complete lack of planning competence is at the top of my hate list, I've posted about it a few times - and more to come in future I'm sure.
ReplyDeleteThis has to be just about the worst example - they even admit that they're halfway through the project before they start thinking about and planning the most awkward section! I had always assumed the Creek extension was going to stop at SZR because of the obvious difficulties.
I think another 'first/biggest' for Dubai is the answer - the world's biggest pipe plus the world's biggest drilling machine, and the world's biggest pump,all made in Japan. Drill the world's biggest hole, put in the world's biggest pipe, move the water with the world's biggest pump - and we'd also have the first underground-man-made Creek.
All those headline-grabbing biggest/firsts in one project...and part of the world's tallest building development too!!
And that whole section of Jumeirah on the seaward side of SZR is jam-packed with houses, office buildings and malls. Ridiculous.
ReplyDeleteThe only way I can think of doing this is to first build a massive diversion, then build the bridge, then get rid of the diversion. The plans are for it to go through safa park as a narrow river. They have to bring it back to the sea so the water doesn't stagnate.
ReplyDeleteThat's fine to bring the water back to the sea, but for that they either need tidal flow, or massive pumps to create a current.
ReplyDeleteSomewhere along the line, someone has to be brave and ask, is it worth it?
Of course it's worth it, Shk Mo says it is. And he is never wrong.
ReplyDeleteOne way for Sheikh Moh'd to abandon an idea is to come up with a grander, yet more feasible one.
ReplyDeleteIt would be more feasible to run the creek down like a highway to Jebel Ali area and merge it with the river planned as part of the Dubai Waterfront. This would create a nice long waterway and require only one SZR crossing.
If original plans are followed, however, there will need to be two SZR crossings associated with the Dubai Waterfront channel in addition to the creek's new crossing. With some 45 lanes planned in total for crossing the original creek, a similar number would be needed to cross any extension across Jumeirah.
lurker, plans aren't for implementing they're for constant changing. Until, that is, one plan is finally implemented, work completed - then it's demolished to make way for the new, improved, updated plan.
ReplyDelete