Latest news with #road repairs
The National
6 days ago
- Automotive
- The National
Dubai to complete Emirates Road repair project for busy first school day
Dubai has harnessed laser technology to identify cracks and potholes for a major repair programme on one of the country's busiest motorways to help ensure smooth travel on the first day back at school. The Roads and Transport Authority is in the final stages of extensive rehabilitation work on Emirates Road, with work to be completed by the time more than one million pupils return to classrooms on Monday, August 25. RTA teams pinpointed a 14km stretch of road that was in need of essential repairs to boost safety and improve traffic flow. 'The laser beam technology helps to identify road defects to improve the transport network and safety,' said Abdullah Lootah, director of roads and facilities maintenance at RTA. 'The data showed defects in this stretch due to large traffic especially from lorries. The repairs in two directions towards Abu Dhabi and Sharjah,' he added. 'Major highways connecting different emirates needs more repairs than the interior roads due to lorries movement.' The cutting-edge technology, first unveiled in 2023, is able to detect cracks as small as 1mm through the use of high-resolution cameras and laser scanning capabilities. Data gathered during road tours is analysed and used to help guide maintenance and repair schedules, ensuring roads that are most in need of work are attended to first. Mr Lootah said the lifespan of roads can be between 20 to 25 years. The authority rehabilitation plan involved adding two to four layers of asphalt in the fast and slow lanes. The laser patrol works by scanning the road surface and instantly detecting cracks. Without human interaction, the system's AI algorithms process the captured data in real time, analysing various parameters, such as crack width, depth and location. It then generates comprehensive reports for RTA engineers, enabling them to prioritise and plan repairs or resurfacing projects. By detecting and addressing these cracks at an early stage, the RTA aims to extend the lifespan of the road infrastructure and reduce maintenance costs. The authority launched the project during the summer season to limit the disruption caused by roadworks. 'Major work such as laying the asphalt was done on weekends. The full repair will finish on August 25 and the road will be ready for commuters with the beginning of the new academic year,' Mr Lootah added. First day back at school – in pictures Authorities across the Emirates will put traffic calming measures around schools to prepare for the start of the academic year. Motorists can also have four black points cleared from their licence if they avoid accidents and abide by traffic rules on August 25, under the annual Accident-Free Day campaign. Emirates Road improvement plan Emirates Road, known as the E611, stretches 110km and is a key alternative route to Sheikh Zayed Road and Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road for drivers in Ras Al Khaimah, Umm Al Quwain, Ajman and Sharjah. It allows motorists to travel to Abu Dhabi without having to go through central Dubai. The Emirates Road development project, being led by the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure separately to the RTA work, will increase the number of lanes from three to five on a 25km stretch linking Al Badee Interchange in Sharjah to Umm Al Quwain. The move will boost the capacity of the route to 9,000 vehicles an hour, an increase of 65 per cent. The scheme will also include an upgrade of Interchange No 7 on Emirates Road, through the construction of six bridges to serve a combined 13,200 vehicles an hour. Work on the project is scheduled to begin in September and is expected to take two years.
Yahoo
11-08-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Iowa City finalizes housing-focused revenue for proposed local option sales tax
Iowa City is asking residents to vote on a possible local option sales tax in November, producing revenue that will address the city's housing needs while funding additional road and sidewalk repairs. The vote is part of an area-wide push to establish a local option sales tax and provide additional budgetary flexibility in Iowa City, Coralville and North Liberty. A simple majority of voters is needed to approve the ballot measure. If approved, the Iowa City's 1% tax will take effect on July 1, 2026. More: Coralville follows North Liberty's lead by drafting broad local option sales tax language Here's what to know: What does Iowa City's local option sales tax ballot language say? Iowa law requires 50% of local option sales tax revenue to be used for "property tax relief." Cities are free to use the remaining 50% in revenue as they see fit. Iowa City's ballot language reads: "The specific purposes for which the revenues shall otherwise be expended are: 25% to preserve existing affordable housing stock, increase shelter, transitional, and permanent housing supports, and increase access to and the supply of affordable housing for households with low incomes. 10% for maintenance and construction of public streets, sidewalks, trails, parks, and facilities as designated by City Council. 15% for community partnerships, including, but not limited to, partnerships that support intergovernmental, economic development, arts and culture, and social service priorities as designated by City Council." Does a local option sales tax apply to every purchase? No. "Life necessities" including groceries, rent or mortgages, utilities, vehicle purchases, gas, motels or hotels, prescription drugs and other health products would be exempt from the 1% surcharge. How much revenue would a sales tax create for Iowa City? City staff estimate that Iowa City generates between $800 million and $1 billion in eligible purchases each year, which would equate to between $8-10 million in revenue. Since state law requires the city to use half on property tax relief, the remaining 50% would equal $4-5 million. Iowa City's adopted Fiscal 2026 budget includes about $76.3 million in revenues, meaning the additional cash flow from a local option sales tax would add an estimated 5-6.5% to the city's budget. More: Prosecutors say ex-UI student would have killed woman, awaits attempted murder verdict Based on staff estimates, the sales tax would annually create an additional $2-2.5 million for housing, $1.2-1.5 million for community partnerships and $800,000 to $1 million for public infrastructure improvements. Iowa City City Council supports LOST with a bit of pause The seven-member Iowa City City Council unanimously approved the LOST ballot language despite a bit of concern. Mayor Pro Tempore Mazahir Salih and several of her colleagues acknowledged that the local option sales tax is "regressive," meaning it creates a greater burden for lower-income people. "I think this is going to affect the most vulnerable people in the community if we add the sales tax," Salih said, though she voted in favor of the proposed ballot language. "We cannot just tax the poor to fix property." Salih has been largely against the tax since it was first discussed in early summer. More: Regents encourage 'free flow of ideas' by removing references to DEI, CRT in new course policy Councilor Megan Alter referenced University of Iowa gamedays, festivals and other events that bring in large crowds from outside of Iowa City. "We will be able to benefit from outside dollars that will stay in our community," Alter said. Mayor Bruce Teague also said the council should "call it like it is," acknowledging the regressive nature of the tax, but referenced the city's "increasingly tight" budget as a possible concern. "It does have large benefits for the most vulnerable in our community," Teague said. "And let's face it, funding is being reduced all around and this is one way that we can help to keep the services that we currently have, as well as enhance opportunities for more services for those most in need." Ryan Hansen covers local government and crime for the Press-Citizen. He can be reached at rhansen@ or on X, formerly known as Twitter, @ryanhansen01. This article originally appeared on Iowa City Press-Citizen: What to know about Iowa City's local option sales tax propsal Solve the daily Crossword
