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20 April 2024

Dh200 fine for jaywalking as JLT Dubai gets new pedestrian footbridge

Published
By Majorie van Leijen

A pedestrian bridge connecting the northern and southern clusters in Jumeirah Lakes Towers (JLT) has been constructed and is open for use.

“As of 6am Sunday, November 24, 2013, DMCC will open a new pedestrian bridge in Jumeirah Lakes Towers," master developer Dubai Multi Commodities Center (DMCC) wrote on its website last month.

“The new pedestrian bridge is the largest single span structure ever installed by Wagner Biro of Austria (the contractor) – stretching from Clusters F&G through to Cluster O – and links the North side (Dubai) to the South side (Jebel Ali) of the development by foot.”

With the opening of the bridge, crossing Al Sahl street on foot has become forbidden, as a signboard states: “Crossing on road prohibited by law – fine Dh200. Use footbridge.”

The footbridge is part of DMCC’s activities in converting lake C into a 55,000 square meter park, which lies at the foot of the bridge.

With the installment of the bridge, the final touches to the playground and theater made, and with the rules and regulations sign boards being installed as we speak, the opening of the park seems to be near.

Inquiring about the official opening on Twitter, Executive Chairman of master developer Dubai Multi Commodities Center (DMCC) Ahmed bin Sulayem said: “It will be open soon enough, looks ready, I was playing basketball in the Kobe Bryant court the other day.”

The basketball court is located at the most southern end of the community, just where the footbridge starts. A little further into the park lies what seems to become a theater, play areas, picnic areas, exercise areas and a lot of green.

“We are very excited about the park, especially for the children,” said Hui Yun Li, a 35-year-old Chinese mother who is sitting in front of a play area in JLT. “Right now we come to this play area, but when the park is opened the children will have plenty of space, which is great.”

According to DMCC, residents of the community mostly welcomed the idea of a park, as there was not a lot of green in the area.

Other plans for the community are the construction of Masjid Uthman Ibn Affan in Cluster M, for which the architect will be announced soon.