Finishing touches on the Dh140 million ($38.15 million) Dubai Inter-national Airport Access Roads and Parking Project, were due for completion at the end of last month. The access roads, bridges and underpass, however, have been open to traffic since November 1999, for Phase 1, in time for the Dubai International Air Show, and August 2000 for Phase 2.

The project comprised construction of new access roads, highway and pedestrian bridges and car-parks for the existing Terminal 1 at the Dubai International Airport. The client was Dubai Municipality Roads Department. The consultant was De Leuw, Cather Overseas Limited, and the main contractor Dutco Balfour Beatty LLC.

Phase 1 of the project contained approximately 5.2 km of new access roads. Approximately 2.0 km of the Airport Road and Al Bustan Road were milled and resurfaced.

The access roads comprise a completely new airport circulation system. The project was highlighted by the major reconstruction of Al Bustan Road/Airport Road intersection, to a full underpass interchange, with a directional ramp from Airport Road westbound, to Al Bustan Road southbound. The length of the underpass is approximately 550 m.

The access road system also includes new roads on the north side of the Airport Road. Connections across the Airport Road are accomplished by the provision of eight new bridges. Two pedestrian bridges across the Airport Road connect a new south-side car-park to the terminal building. The new parking area consists of about 55,000 sq m and can accommodate 1,100 vehicles.

The project also included the installation of street lighting, an irrigation system, landscaping, relocation of utilities, construction of utility crossings and the construction of a storm-water drainage system, in addition to an artificial rock and water feature.

Phase 2 of the project encompassed all works associated with the Airport Road/Al Bustan Road Interchange. This covered the construction of a three-level intersection, at Al Bustan Junction, with an underpass, a signalled junction and a 500-m-long flyover. The arch-shaped flyover passes directly over the junction.

The project was designed by De Leuw, Cather Overseas Limited at its area office n Dubai, where a team of bridge and highway design engineers, planners transportation specialists, QA/QC specialists and full support staff are employed.

Dutco Balfour Beatty as the main contractor was supported by a total of 20 subcontractors. At the peak of construction, there were some 1,300 employees on the site.

Around 50,000 cu m of concrete, 33,000 tonnes of asphalt and 1,108 different construction materials were used on the project.

During construction, traffic maintenance to the busy international airport took considerable effort from all concerned parties, in particular Dubai Police.

A large effort was also required from all concerned parties, for the diverting of some 27 km of existing services.

Elaborate tiling to the underpass walls was completed to the high standards required by both Dubai Municipality and the Department of Civil Aviation.

Works were carried out in full cooperation and coordination with the client, as well as the Department of Civil Aviation, and all services authorities, to the required high international standards.