The Municipality in Abu Dhabi has embarked on the third major underground car park in the busy city centre within a long-term plan to tackle its persistent parking and congestion problems. The project is being set up between Hamdan and Khalifa Streets on an area housing an old government school, which has been demolished for technical reasons.
Scores of trucks, bulldozers and construction workers are seen almost daily digging deep into the ground for the three-level parking lot, which is expected to be completed within two years to complement the two nearby underground lots in the heart of the capital. The new project is designed to accommodate nearly 1,100 vehicles and is in an area which has been the scene of huge traffic congestion and persistent violations by motorists who parked wrongly because of lack of space.
Hamdan and Khalifa are the busiest streets in Abu Dhabi as they are located in the heart of the city, which houses most shopping centres, companies, hotels, embassies and ministries. An estimated 20,000 cars use that area every day. "The project was launched in December and will hopefully complete in February 2006," said Shoban Raveendran, Safety Officer at Al Hamed Contracting Company, which is carrying out the project for the Abu Dhabi Municipality. "It is one of the biggest car parking lots in the capital." Abu Dhabi Municipality has been locked in a drive to tackle the chronic traffic congestion and parking problems in the fast growing city. It involves the construction of underground parks, underpasses, new roads and expansion of existing streets.
The drive followed complains by the public and the police about large traffic columns in key streets, lack of parking space, persistent traffic offences and growing accidents. The two other underground parking lots on Hamdan Street have a capacity of more than 3,000 vehicles and have been instrumental in tackling traffic and parking problems in that area. Municipality officials said there are plans to construct more paid underground parking lots in other areas and extend existing parking spaces. "Although it will take two years, this parking lot will tackle a big problem here," said a resident of a building overlooking the new project. "The area is packed in the morning and at noon because of the shopping centres, companies, and government departments. I rarely find room to park." Municipal sources said at least Dh800 million ($218 million) has been pumped into parking and road expansions in Abu Dhabi but they will increase the municipality¹s revenue.
"These projects constitute an additional source of income for the municipality but I think they will pay off more in terms of tackling the festering traffic congestion, parking problems and accidents." Three-level facility will be the biggest * The third major unground parking facility is being set up between Hamdan and Khalifa Streets the scene of huge traffic congestion. * The project launched in December is expected to complete in February 2006. * The three-level car parking. lot will be one of the biggest in the capital. * The new project is designed to accommodate nearly 1,100 vehicles. * It is expected to be completed within two years to complement the two nearby underground lots. * The two other underground parking lots on Hamdan Street have a capacity of more than 3,000 vehicles and have been instrumental in tackling traffic and parking problems. * Abu Dhabi Municipality has plans to construct more paid underground parking lots in other areas and extend existing spaces.
Scores of trucks, bulldozers and construction workers are seen almost daily digging deep into the ground for the three-level parking lot, which is expected to be completed within two years to complement the two nearby underground lots in the heart of the capital. The new project is designed to accommodate nearly 1,100 vehicles and is in an area which has been the scene of huge traffic congestion and persistent violations by motorists who parked wrongly because of lack of space.
Hamdan and Khalifa are the busiest streets in Abu Dhabi as they are located in the heart of the city, which houses most shopping centres, companies, hotels, embassies and ministries. An estimated 20,000 cars use that area every day. "The project was launched in December and will hopefully complete in February 2006," said Shoban Raveendran, Safety Officer at Al Hamed Contracting Company, which is carrying out the project for the Abu Dhabi Municipality. "It is one of the biggest car parking lots in the capital." Abu Dhabi Municipality has been locked in a drive to tackle the chronic traffic congestion and parking problems in the fast growing city. It involves the construction of underground parks, underpasses, new roads and expansion of existing streets.
The drive followed complains by the public and the police about large traffic columns in key streets, lack of parking space, persistent traffic offences and growing accidents. The two other underground parking lots on Hamdan Street have a capacity of more than 3,000 vehicles and have been instrumental in tackling traffic and parking problems in that area. Municipality officials said there are plans to construct more paid underground parking lots in other areas and extend existing parking spaces. "Although it will take two years, this parking lot will tackle a big problem here," said a resident of a building overlooking the new project. "The area is packed in the morning and at noon because of the shopping centres, companies, and government departments. I rarely find room to park." Municipal sources said at least Dh800 million ($218 million) has been pumped into parking and road expansions in Abu Dhabi but they will increase the municipality¹s revenue.
"These projects constitute an additional source of income for the municipality but I think they will pay off more in terms of tackling the festering traffic congestion, parking problems and accidents." Three-level facility will be the biggest * The third major unground parking facility is being set up between Hamdan and Khalifa Streets the scene of huge traffic congestion. * The project launched in December is expected to complete in February 2006. * The three-level car parking. lot will be one of the biggest in the capital. * The new project is designed to accommodate nearly 1,100 vehicles. * It is expected to be completed within two years to complement the two nearby underground lots. * The two other underground parking lots on Hamdan Street have a capacity of more than 3,000 vehicles and have been instrumental in tackling traffic and parking problems. * Abu Dhabi Municipality has plans to construct more paid underground parking lots in other areas and extend existing spaces.
