Tall & Urban News

Ithra Dubai, a leading developer of community-oriented real estate projects, announced the start of the first phase of sliding “The Link”, a cantilevering skybridge, on its landmark One Za’abeel development. The commencement of sliding officially launched on Thursday, September 12, 2019.

Suspended more than 100 meters above ground level and measuring 210 meters in length, The Link is a panoramic sky concourse that connects the two towers of One Za’abeel. The structure will house a choice of attractions including restaurants, observation decks, and an infinity pool, as well as an “immersive experience” that is now in its final design stages.

Ithra Dubai and its construction partners are building The Link in sections, and have carried out a sliding operation to move it into place, spanning the Happiness Bridge and linking the two towers, before it is lifted into its final position 100 meters in the air. The sliding phase launched in the presence of  Issam Galadari, Chief Executive Officer and board member of Ithra Dubai, as well as members from the development and construction teams.

On the sliding of The Link, Mr. Galadari commented, “We are excited to have reached this critical stage on One Za’abeel’s construction. The Link is an incredible feat of engineering that showcases Dubai’s ingenuity and commitment to creating groundbreaking developments.”

“As the world’s largest cantilever, The Link will provide breathtaking 360 degree views of the city, in addition to the project’s prime location for residences, office space and leisure. The sliding phase of The Link is an incredible achievement that demonstrates Ithra Dubai’s talent and ability to overcome engineering challenges,” Galadari added.

The Link’s bridge is constructed of seven steel modules—named Assembly A through G—that are slid into place before they are lifted to their final position on the building. After connecting the first assembly to a temporary launching nose, The Link will then slide from Tower A towards Tower B.

Ithra Dubai appointed a sliding and lifting specialist that used heavy-duty strand jacks capable of generating a pulling force of up to 220 metric tons per jack, to slide both Segment A and the launching nose 30 meters along the temporary platform to the edge of the podium. This has created space to assemble the next segment. At 1,742 metric tons and 51 meters in length, Assembly A is the heaviest individual node to be erected.

The primary nodes for each of the bridge’s assemblies were constructed off-site and delivered fully fabricated to reduce on-site welding. Transporting these nodes entailed significant planning, coordination and execution to move the individual elements to the construction site, with the heaviest weighing in excess of 45 metric tons.

This latest stage in the building’s construction followed the assembly of a temporary launching nose on top of the retail podium level 4 in Tower A of One Za’abeel.

Ithra Dubai LLC, wholly owned by Investment Corporation of Dubai (ICD), develops and manages a large portfolio of pioneering real estate projects in Dubai and in key international markets.

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