Etihad Rail, the developer and operator of the UAE National Rail Network, has reported that half of the work on the UAE’s marine rail bridge has been completed as part of Package B of Stage Two of the Rail Network.
The one-kilometer-long marine rail bridge connects Khalifa Port to the UAE National Rail Network. The bridge will be vital for enhancing and reducing the cost of freight transportation in the region.
This will help Etihad Rail build a rail network in the UAE that connects key ports with manufacturing hubs and residential areas across the country, lowering carbon emissions and helping to preserve the environment by minimizing truck trips.
The UAE National Railway Network’s first marine bridge required 18,300 m3 of reinforced concrete and 4,117 tons of steel to construct. The bridge will run parallel to an existing road bridge that connects the Abu Dhabi mainland to the offshore container port region and covers the same length.
The marine bridge is being built in line with the highest environmental standards, with Etihad Rail focusing on maintaining water flow by ensuring that the new marine bridge’s expansions and rubble are aligned with the existing bridge. This ensures the flow of water, which is essential for the preservation of the coral reefs that surround the bridge.
The company continues construction works of the bridge according to extensive planning, where it has successfully overcome climatic and environmental challenges presented by the nature of the land’s topography. These challenges include tide changes, changes in wind speed and direction, as well as high temperatures and humidity.
In September, Etihad Rail announced the completion of Package A of Stage Two, which extends over 139 km and connects to Stage One, which runs 264 km from Habshan to Al Ruwais, via Al Ghuwaifat on the Saudi Arabian border. This major step brings the company closer to completing its target for completing the UAE National Railway Network.
