The Ministry of Public Works and Housing completed the removal of a pedestrian bridge near the Jaber Border Crossing on Friday after it was struck by a UAE truck carrying two concrete mixer vehicles in violation of the permitted height limit.
اضافة اعلان
The collision caused parts of the bridge to collapse and damaged its structural foundations, compromising its safety and creating a risk of a complete collapse.
The ministry said its technical and engineering teams immediately went to the site following the accident and conducted an urgent structural assessment.
The inspection found that parts of the bridge had been damaged and its foundations destabilized, making it unsafe to leave the structure in place.
Based on the engineering assessment and recommendations, an immediate decision was made to completely remove the bridge to protect public safety and prevent any potential risks from the damaged sections collapsing.
Minister of Public Works and Housing Maher Abu Al-Samen followed developments and field operations until late at night, directing teams to secure the site and complete the removal as quickly as possible given the road’s importance and the bridge’s location at the entrance to the Jaber Border Crossing.
Acting Secretary-General for Financial and Administrative Affairs Abdel Aziz Al-Thiyabat was present at the site, while Acting Secretary-General for Technical Affairs Wasim Al-Adwan supervised the work, alongside Mafraq Public Works Director Alaa Al-Hazaimeh and the ministry’s technical, engineering and field teams, in coordination with the Public Security Directorate and Civil Defense.
Following the decision to remove the bridge, the necessary machinery and equipment were brought to the site. Safety measures were implemented, the work area was secured and traffic was organized before crews began demolishing and removing the remaining sections of the bridge and clearing the debris.
Work continued overnight, and crews completed the bridge’s removal, cleared the debris and secured the site by dawn. The road was subsequently reopened to traffic normally and safely.
The ministry said a technical study of the site will be conducted later to assess whether a new pedestrian bridge is needed, taking into account the location, traffic patterns, road-user needs and traffic-safety requirements.
The ministry also said it would take the necessary legal measures against the vehicle responsible for the accident and seek compensation from the responsible party for all losses, damages and costs resulting from the accident and the bridge-removal operations, in accordance with applicable laws and procedures.
The ministry praised all personnel and agencies involved in responding to the incident, saying their rapid response and field coordination helped eliminate the safety hazard, complete the work within a few hours and restore normal traffic flow.
