The Department of Transport in Abu Dhabi has launched a project to unify road engineering standards by adopting the best international practices for design, construction, operation, maintenance and management of roads; it was announced earlier this week.
The decision comes as part of the department’s efforts to improve safety and maximise the capacity of the Emirate’s road network. The project is expected to be finalised in the third quarter of 2013. It consists of 34 documents covering all aspects of road engineering and related infrastructure (bridges and tunnels), such a geometry, materials, traffic and construction and maintenance standards, environmental and health and safety issues.
“Unifying and standardising of Road Engineering Practices project is carried out by the DoT in coordination with several strategic partners from the government of Abu Dhabi, such as the Abu Dhabi Urban Planning Council (UPC), the Department of Municipal Affairs (DMA) and the Abu Dhabi Municipality,” the department said in a statement.
“In addition, three global consulting firms were assigned to prepare the new standards, which are later reviewed and verified by DoT officials and experts,” it added.
The new standards will be implemented gradually and in phases, starting from Q3 2013 on new projects and on on-going ones (if contract conditions allow). Delivered projects will have to abide by standards pertaining to maintenance and operations.