The joint committee, which consists of the Municipality of Abu Dhabi City, Abu Dhabi Police, Department of Transport, and the National Crisis and Emergency Management Authority (NCEMA), stated that works were gathering pace and progressing towards the ultimate opening stage. The 3km tunnel project was originally due to be completed by the end of 2010 but was delayed due to technical and topographical reasons.
The committee also stressed the importance of using cutting-edge technologies in managing the tunnel. ³The completion of tunnel construction is very important, but more importantly, is the management of the tunnel at world-class standards through using sophisticated technologies to ensure the highest levels of security and flexible traffic flow," said Abdullah Al Shamsi, acting executive director of Infrastructure and Municipal Assets Sector at the Municipality of Abu Dhabi City.
Shamsi added: "All concerned bodies are keen on capitalising on technological systems considered the latest in the Middle East to address the requirements of the environment, safety and security. Such requirements stem from the strategy, objectives and mission of the Municipality to provide best-in-class services to the community in a safe and healthy environment in a bid to keep risks level less than 1 per cent, a rate which is globally unavailable, but the Municipality will be endeavouring to achieve by counting on the cooperation and integration with all stakeholders. Such an objective can be materialised through working out respective plans of each party in the light of information and scenarios charted by the committee, deploying the required resources of each party to ensure a rapid and effective response at the time of accidents, and working in a concerted manner with all relevant parties."
