Dubai is making steady strides towards meeting its ambitious plans for public transport with the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) reporting the successful completion of the first tunnelling phase for the long much-anticipated Dubai Metro Blue Line, UAE. The announcement came in a video from the RTA on Wednesday, which demonstrated the advanced engineering of the project that is still underway under the city, prior to the emergence of metro stations.
Advanced Engineering Speeds Up Construction
The RTA showcased the use of cutting-edge construction technologies that are accelerating the Blue Line project’s development without compromising on accuracy and safety. It’s based around the 163-metre-long, over 2,000-tonne state-of-the-art tunnel boring machine “Al Wugeisha”. The machine is equipped with state-of-the-art digital systems for guidance and monitoring, and works continuously, making the excavation process more efficient.
The impressive production rate of the machine has reached up to 30 metres per day, so that the first stage in tunnelling was completed in only two months, a significant speed-up compared with other metro projects.
Dubai’s Tunnel Engineering Has Rapidly Advanced
The RTA noted the progress made today to the initial TBMs tunneling operations undertaken by the city for the Dubai Metro in 2007. At that time:
- The average rate of construction was 12 metres per day.
- It took about seven months for the tunneling to be carried out.
Thanks to technology that came into place in Dubai over the last few decades, the city’s construction has more than doubled, and the whole city boasts three decades of engineering advancement and infrastructure development.
RTA: Blue Line Journey has Just Begun
According to the video, apart from improving on the global standards already laid down in tunnel engineering, Dubai has been continuously striving to raise further competency in this field. “Within the past 20 years, Dubai has doubled its capacity, triped its progress and pushed the envelope in tunnel engineering – and it’s just started on the Blue Line.” Successful completion of the first phase of tunnelling was another “giant step” towards completing one of the UAE’s largest transportation initiatives, the Authority said.
Dh18 Billion Metro Expansion
The Dubai Metro Blue Line will be valued at around Dh18 billion and will be one of the vital public transport links in Dubai. Project highlights include:
- 30 kilometres of railway
- 14 new metro stations
- Around 15 kilometres underground
- Remaining sections elevated above ground
The new line will connect residential areas, commercial and dense areas, educational hubs, and Dubai International Airport to foster connectivity, helping to shape the growth of the city.
Opening Scheduled 2029
The RTA has announced the opening date of the Dubai Metro Blue Line – on September 9, 2029 – the symbolic date commemorating the 20th anniversary of the Dubai Metro. The Blue Line will, once in service, enhance the mobility credentials of hundreds of thousands of workers and commuters, as well as alleviate congestion and strengthen Dubai’s aspirations to sustainable and efficient urban transport.
