The Roads and Transport Authority in Dubai confirmed that the Al Maktoum Bridge is subject to an integrated system of periodic maintenance, which is updated annually to ensure the sustainability and efficiency of the bridge, which represents a vital artery for transportation between the Deira and Bur Dubai regions, and it is the oldest bridge in the emirate, in addition to maintaining traffic movement. list on it. The Authority pays great attention to enhancing the infrastructure of bridges, main roads, and the transportation system in Dubai, to keep pace with the current and future development process, and to achieve the Authority’s vision of global leadership for easy and sustainable transportation in the Emirate of Dubai.
The authority implements the periodic maintenance plan on Al Maktoum Bridge, according to five time stages, which are: daily preventive and routine maintenance, weekly maintenance, monthly maintenance, quarterly preventive and routine maintenance, and the main maintenance of the bridge on an annual basis.
It is noteworthy that most maintenance operations are carried out during the bridge closure period after midnight, two days a week, to ensure that maintenance work does not affect traffic movement, and to preserve the safety of the public.
Abdullah Al Ali, Executive Director of the Traffic and Roads Agency at the Roads and Transport Authority, said: “The Al Maktoum Bridge is considered one of the oldest five crossings over the creek in Dubai, and it is the first bridge opened in the Emirate of Dubai in 1962, to enable the public to cross from Bur Dubai to Deira. Or vice versa, and from this standpoint, the Authority is keen to follow the latest and most innovative methods in maintaining and improving its assets, thus enhancing the efficiency of roads and prolonging their lifespan.”
He added, “The year 2023 witnessed the conduct of more than 104 routine and corrective maintenance works, which took approximately 5,222 working hours to complete. These numbers reflect the size of the efforts made by the Authority to ensure the smooth flow of traffic on the Al Maktoum Bridge, which has a capacity of 22,000 vehicles.” per hour in both directions.
He said, “The Authority carried out 14 major maintenance works on the Al Maktoum Bridge for the period between 2014 and 2022, the most prominent of which was the replacement of the main hydraulic cylinder and the replacement of all pipes for the bridge's hydraulic systems in the presence of elite international experts, a comprehensive examination of the structural condition of the moving part of the Al Maktoum Bridge, and the replacement of All valves, sensors, hydraulic valves and their accessories during the comprehensive maintenance of the bridge, anti-slip coating works on the moving bridge surfaces of the vehicle tracks, specialized structural evaluation of the underwater metal curtains, and tests to confirm the service life of the bridge.”
He pointed out that the Al Maktoum Bridge is one of the most advanced mobile bridges due to the presence of hydraulic pumps that allow the bridge to be opened and closed. This feature contributes to facilitating the movement of maritime navigation for ships and elevated boats that pass through Dubai Creek from the bottom of the bridge, in addition to this feature facilitating the conduct of operational checks. For all important machines, as well as routine inspection and monitoring of all parts that require lubrication.
During routine and preventive maintenance on a daily basis, the Authority works to verify the integrity of the main electric generator, brake levers and hydraulic pipes of the bridge, examine oil leakage in the pipes, hoses and hydraulic pumps that control the operations, opening and closing of the bridge, inspect and verify the electrical connections to the set of hydraulic valves controlling the movement of the cylinders, and perform visual inspection. For the pedestrian path on the bridge, visual inspection of the retaining wall facade, and inspection of all traffic signal lamps on the bridge and replacement if necessary.
Routine preventive maintenance includes weekly cleaning and inspection of the hydraulic switches of the locking system, proper performance testing of the diesel engine used in emergency situations, testing the operation of the backup generator used in emergency situations, and cleaning and lubricating the master cylinders of the bridge cranes.
The monthly routine and preventive maintenance work consists of inspecting and maintaining the air conditioning units of the main control rooms and the bridge’s electrical panel rooms, checking the expansion joints and gaps of the bridge, inspecting and lubricating all mechanical connections on the brake levers and drive chains in emergency situations, inspecting and lubricating the bearing plates in the upper lock boxes, Check the oil level in the brake system.
Quarterly routine and preventive maintenance includes checking the oil level in the main electric motor, checking the oil level in the brake levers, checking the flow of lubricating oil for the circulation pump inside the main electric motor and the cooling element, checking the fender shackles and ropes, and checking the curtain fasteners. Metal to protect the bridge bases, along with checking the metal curtain walls.
The Authority has allocated a specialized international team to conduct annual maintenance and detailed inspection of all civil and structural parts of the moving part of the Al Maktoum Bridge, in addition to the annual inspection, which is carried out by a skilled team of divers, in order to ensure the safety of the metal curtains surrounding the bridge’s underwater bases.
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