Dubai is unparalleled. No other city can boast of hosting the tallest building on the planet, the Burj Khalifa; an artificial island in the shape of a palm tree, the Palm Jumeirah; and an indoor ski slope in the desert, Ski Dubai. The only problem is that in summer it’s too hot. Taking a walk through this deserted metropolis can be pure hell.
The climate of the place is the product of a relentless cocktail that combines high temperature with intense humidity. Without going any further, in July of this year, the instruments at Dubai International Airport recorded a temperature of 42 ºC, which translated into a thermal sensation of 62 ºC. The government is willing to find a solution.
Air-conditioned walkways in Dubai
Dubai certainly cannot block out the sun, but it can do one of the things it does best: develop mega-constructions. In this case we are talking about Dubai Walka recently approved master plan that aims to make the city a more pedestrian-friendly place. As we will see, this is a very ambitious project.
We are talking about 6,500 km of walkways that will be distributed in 160 areas throughout the emirate. 3,300 kilometers of the walkways will be completely new, while 2,300 kilometers will be restored walkways. The project also includes the construction of 110 pedestrian bridges and underpasses to improve walking connectivity by 2040.
In light of the data, this is many kilometers of walkways. As we might expect, these will connect points of interest in the citysuch as the Dubai International Financial Center, the aforementioned Burj Khalifa, and the Jumeirah Lakes towers. Each route will have its own designs, colors and lighting. The idea is that they differ significantly from each other.
Air conditioning, however, will not be present on all routes. It will be exclusive to a section called Future Loop of 30,000 square meters. This will feature a modern elevated walkway that will connect 10 key locations in the emirate. The idea is that residents and visitors can move comfortably on foot at any time of the year.
We will have to wait to find out how the project will evolve. For now we know that the pilot stage will take place between 2025 and 2027. Dubai Walk should be fully completed by 2040. If the plan is a success, the government plans to add 900 more kilometers of walkways to be built in later years.
Images | Mohamed bin Rashid Al Maktoum
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