A bunch of these new enclosed pedestrian bridges have popped up around Kuwait and although they had been completed for some time, they remained closed and non-operational until recently.
There isn’t really much to see inside, instead of regular stairs you have escalators to take you up and down and the bridge is air conditioning for the summer.
I’m not really sure why we need air-conditioned bridges since if I’m using it in the summmer, it’s because I got there walking in the heat in the first place. I guess a cool down area or maybe to entice people to use it instead of crossing the street under the bridge? Not sure…
17 replies on “Inside the New Pedestrian Bridges”
i think cooldown area, which is a decent idea.
imagine having to walk past a mall/building/store in the summer heat. you’d prefer to go through the air conditioning.
In true Kuwaiti reinvent-the-wheel fashion, not only are these bridges abysmally ugly, but they swap practical functionality for something clunky, contrived and nonsensical: a simpler, more compact and far cheaper design could see a small elevator cabin on each side enclosed by a staircase that would allow people in wheelchairs, people with prams/carts or lesser-abled folk to access the bridge section, while keeping stairs open for those who need instant access.
These designs completely omit easy-access ramps and elevators, so how is anyone who doesn’t have two working legs supposed to use them? Even the entrances to the bridges have steps. Not to mention the added cost of sticking air-conditioning units on top of them… at most, people will be on these bridges for under 60 seconds, negating the need to have air-conditioning.
Someone in the government most likely had money to move to some contractor/supplier/engineer, and now we’re stuck with this. Stupid, stupid, stupid.
Thank you, K. Exactly what I felt when I saw this. I can understand air conditioned bust stops/rest stops but air conditioned bridge? And not considering wheelchair access, in this day and age, is sheer indifference.
This needs to be placed in heavy foot traffic areas like downtown Salhiya where it most needed. not on the Gulf Road.
The approach to the Sheraton Round about from down town is crazy dangerous because you got this mass of people on Exodus mode going back and forth on the streets and to add to the misery,public transport buses just stopping willy nilly on the street instead of the designated bus lanes. Traffic Cops need to enforce buses using the designated bus lanes and keeping the streets clear of pedestrians .
If the government has run out of money to build a new pedestrian bridge then they least they can do is install a push button pedestrian timed traffic light to stop cars for 30 seconds or so just so that the herds can cross without any one getting run over or killed.
Good point, not many people trying to cross the Gulf Road but whats more mind-boggling is the second pedestrian bridge right after this one is at a traffic light https://goo.gl/maps/GvKFZHG2pzAC1qUE9
That one should have been moved up further the road to where the embassies are located. Due to lack of parking at the embassies, people then to park in the burj hamam parking lot and then run across the street. super dangerous.
I’m assuming this one is for the future residents of Hessah Al Mubarak.
Totally agree with you! Even towards Seef Hospital, so many people get killed trying to cross over to the beach.
As normal, the walk way is built near that new housing site, that costs around 1million KD just for land (doubt its that high, but its up there) they built it so Kuwaitis can cross the road, not very likely
“That one should have been moved up further the road to where the embassies are located. Due to lack of parking at the embassies, people then to park in the burj hamam parking lot and then run across the street. super dangerous”
Exactly .. Totally Nonsensical to have it built right next to the Traffic Light and absolutely Super Dangerous for the people crossing the road.
I understand security concerns in closing off the Diplomatic Areas and Embassy Zones to non state & diplomatic vehicles but the least the government could have done is build a safe place to cross from the parking area.
The government through KPTC, could also arrange a hop on hop off shuttle service like they have for visitors at KOC; the pick up and drop off point can be exactly opposite burj hamam parking lot and visitors just have to sit in a bus that ferries them around to the various embassies in the Diplomatic Zone . It would be considered a blessing for many expats especially in the summer.
They actually do have a shuttle service, it’s the white bus stop where I am recommending the pedestrian bridge to be
Oh Nice .. Thanks for the update.. is this something recent ? its been some time since I was there .
I think a year maybe?
Such a waste… perfect example of unnecessary useless projects for some money laundering
Meant to be a stand alone comment
Are these bridges solar-powered? It would be more ecological and even economical if they were.
Vending machines would’ve been great.
The condition of the bridge opposite the Salmiya Fire station on 4th Rign road, considering that it was open only in 2020, was shocking.
It is absolutely unclean with garbage overflowing from trash cans and tissues scattered on the escalators. It was an absolute abysmal scene. Hope they maintain and clean these bridges on a regular basis and impose fines on people who misuse such facilities.
Can you share pics?