There were no pedestrian fatalities recorded on five main roads in 2013 and last year after bridges were built, RTA statistics show.

DUBAI // Pedestrian fatalities in Dubai last year fell to their lowest rate in two decades, largely thanks to the construction of walkways over busy roads, said the Roads and Transport Authority.

There were no pedestrian fatalities recorded on five main roads in 2013 and last year after the bridges were built, RTA statistics show.

The pedestrian fatality rate declined from 9.5 fatalities per 100,000 people in 2007 to seven in 2010 and one last year.

Over the past two years, the RTA built bridges over the five main roads – Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road, Umm Suqeim Road, Al Rebat Road, Al Asayel Road, and First Al Khail Road.

The building of 22 bridges was completed over the past two years, and seven others were being built, said Mattar Al Tayer, RTA’s chairman and executive director.

Construction of new footbridges that will span six roads has begun and will be completed early next year.

They include two bridges on Baghdad Street, and one bridge each on Al Maktoum Road, Al Mina Street, Amman Road, Baniyas Road and Al Rasheed Road.

A total of 107 pedestrian bridges will be built by next year.

The number of pedestrian bridges in Dubai has risen from 14 in 2006 to 74 in 2011 and 100 last year.

“The new bridges to be constructed in a number of vital locations are selected … based on parameters such as traffic intensity, number of accidents and fatalities, maximum speed limit, number of lanes, and population density on roadsides,” said Mr Al Tayer.