Abu Dhabi: An initiative to replace traditional lighting in Abu Dhabi’s pedestrian underpasses with LED fixtures will reduce power consumption by 33 per cent, the Municipality of Abu Dhabi City announced in a statement on Wednesday.
LED fixtures use less energy while providing greater visibility.
The lighting in six underpasses — two on Shaikh Zayed Street and four on Corniche Street — has already been changed in the first phase of the initiative. The efficiency of the LED fixtures is currently being tested. A study will be conducted and a plan developed to replace light fixtures in the city’s 29 other underpasses.
“The new system in these tunnels will not only reduce power consumption significantly, but it will also lower the cost of annual maintenance,” Ahmad Al Sayyari, acting director of internal roads and infrastructure at the municipality, said.
He added that the project would ensure greater environmental sustainability in municipal services.
The municipality has introduced several new projects to make underpasses in Abu Dhabi city safer and user-friendly in an effort to reduce jaywalking and traffic incidents involving pedestrians. Underpasses are now monitored with closed circuit television cameras while new electronic signs have been installed to direct road users towards underpasses.
Since 2012, the municipality has been working to make street lighting more efficient. The sodium lamps are gradually being switched to LED fixtures. Officials expect these fixtures to use 67 per cent less energy within a 20-year period. They are also projected to save Dh1.13 billion as LED lights are more durable.
New roads and key areas have already been lit with LED fixtures, including the recently upgraded Shaikh Zayed Street, Al Bainounah Street and roads around the Ministries Complex. Their use is also mandated for all new and retrofitted streets under the Department of Municipal Affairs’ Lighting Specifications
