It’s been a long time coming, but the Al Salam Street project is nearing an end. We caught up with one of the Municipality of Abu Dhabi City engineers who helped make it happen and found out that Mohammed Hamad Al Junaibi is all work – even when he plays.

Originally born and raised in Abu Dhabi, in the course of his short career Mohammed, 26 years old, has already played a vital role in developing one of the capital’s most important thoroughfares.

In addition to civil engineering, Mohammed has been instrumental in educating the public about the Al Salam Street project. Last year, working with the Municipal Roads and Infrastructure Division in the Municipality of Abu Dhabi City, Mohammed organised a series of presentations entitled A Day at Al Salam Street during which 175 residents of different ages, nationalities and backgrounds gathered to find out about the development.

“Many people didn’t know what we were doing – they saw fences and men working but they didn’t know what was going on, so I thought why not show them? Now people know that this project is not just a road – it is a part of Abu Dhabi Vision 2030 and a major undertaking.”

How major? As the city’s skyline evolves, the massive projects coming to Saadiyat, Al Reem and Sowwah Islands rely on just the sort of infrastructure the Al Salam Street project will provide.

How does someone involved in such an important venture spend his free time? We don’t know – this energetic engineer doesn’t leave much of his time “free”.

6am: After praying, Mohammed – who is not yet married – has breakfast with his family. “I live with my parents, which is normal in Emirati life. People often live with their parents until they get married and sometimes even after they are married because family ties in the UAE are very important.”

7.30am: Mohammed arrives at his site office ready for the day. From his start as an apprentice-style assistant to the master engineer of the Al Salam Street project in 2009, he’s risen to the position of project engineer working on infrastructure and project execution.

“My main job is to follow up the utility work – electricity, water, telephone, sewage and storm water – and coordinate with the different government agencies. We must be very careful when dealing with these utilities so that we don’t interrupt the flow of service to residents in the area.”

3pm: After spending most of the day at work, Mohammed heads off to his college course where he continues his engineering studies until 7pm. “I always have a good breakfast and for lunch I try to eat something little because if I eat something heavy I get sleepy.”

7.30pm: It’s been a long day with work and school, but Mohammed still isn’t ready for a rest – instead it’s time for two hours in the gym. “I really enjoy sport and I practice a form of kickboxing called Muay Thai; it helps me stay fit and I hope to eventually compete. I try to use my time no matter what I’m doing.”

10pm: Finally home, Mohammed sits down with his other favourite past time. “I like reading because I like to stay in touch with what’s going on in the world around me. I am particularly impressed by Leonardo da Vinci.

I’ve read everything about him and he’s my role model – he was a painter and an inventor, he was an engineer and he designed things people couldn’t even imagine at the time, like the helicopter.”

Final thoughts: Maybe someday this driven Emirati will accomplish as much as da Vinci did, but for now, Mohammed is focusing his attention on Al Salam Street. “We are hoping to help people understand that all of this is part of the Abu Dhabi 2030 – everything that is happening now is for the future.”

Laura Fulton

 

Fast facts about Al Salam Street

• Al Salam Street is the first freeway on Abu Dhabi island.
• The mega infrastructure project is part of the Municipality of Abu Dhabi City’s strategic aim to meet the requirements of a developing city, as well as respond to the needs of the growing population.
• The project features a 3.6 km long tunnel, where 2.4km will be covered and the remaining will be open, between Al Salam intersection with Hazza Bin Zayed Street and Mina Road. The layered roadways should significantly reduce travel time for motorists, reduce traffic volume and decrease air pollution.
• Valued at around AED five billion, the Al Salam Street project will provide four lanes of uninterrupted travel in each direction. This expansion will allow an estimated 6,000 vehicles per hour to travel in each direction.
• The bridge-and-tunnel interchange will provide three levels of traffic catering for new developments in the city. The project also includes three other tunnels, all equipped with a number of safety features including emergency shoulders, fire detectors and cameras.