The Last Mile is the Hardest
The AED 689 million Hessa Street Improvement Project is in its final stretch. The bridges are up, the asphalt is down. Now comes the frantic push for Handover. Target: Q4 2025.
For the main contractor, this phase is dangerous. The heavy machinery is gone, but the “Snag List” is growing. The demand shifts from massive Jersey Barriers to the thousands of small precast elements that make the road functional and compliant.
The Wheel Stopper Panic
Every parking bay, every service area, every rest stop needs a Wheel Stopper. On a 4.5km stretch of highway with service roads, that’s thousands of units.
We see it on every job: The civil works are done, the asphalt is perfect, but the wheel stoppers were forgotten.
- The Problem: You can’t open the parking area without them.
- The Panic: Calling every supplier in Dubai to find stock.
- The Fix: We keep thousands of standard RTA-spec wheel stoppers in our yard, cured, painted, and ready to go.
Marking the Underground
Before the consultants sign off, the utilities must be marked. High-voltage cables, fiber optics, and water lines need permanent concrete markers on the surface. Using cheap plastic markers that fade in the sun will get you a “Re-Work” order. Our Cable Markers are cast with recessed lettering and durable concrete. They survive the harsh UV and sandblasting of the roadside environment, ensuring the asset is identified for decades.
The Pavement Snags
During the heavy construction phase, the temporary walkways and service paths take a beating. Pavers get cracked by heavy machinery. Before handover, these must be replaced. Matching the color and texture of existing pavers is tricky. We maintain strict batch control on our Paving Slabs to ensure that the replacement tiles match the originals. You don’t want a “patchwork quilt” effect on your new road.
Demobilization Logistics
Completing Hessa Street also means removing the temporary infrastructure. Thousands of tons of Jersey Barriers and Hoarding Blocks need to be lifted and moved.
- Option A: Dump them. (Wasteful and costly).
- Option B: Store them. (If you have space).
- Option C: Move them to the next job.
This is where buying quality pays off. If you bought cheap, crumbling barriers 2 years ago, they are now waste. You have to pay to dispose of them. If you bought our high-strength reinforced barriers, they are assets. You pick them up, refurbish the paint, and deploy them to your next project (maybe the Tasreef site).
The Aesthetics of Handover
The RTA will not accept a project that looks “finished but dirty.” The precast elements must be pristine.
- Clean Paint: No tire marks or oil stains.
- Aligned: Straight lines on all stoppers and barriers.
- Grouted: No gaps under the curbs.
We advise our clients to order a “finishing batch” of precast—clean, new units for the high-visibility areas—rather than trying to clean up battered temporary blocks for the final permanent installation.
| Handover Item | Function | The Panic Factor |
|---|---|---|
| Wheel Stoppers | Parking Safety | High (Often forgotten) |
| Cable Markers | Utility ID | Medium (Spec compliance) |
| Paving Slabs | Walkways | Medium (Color matching) |
| Kerbstones | Road Edge | High (Damage repair) |
The Signature on the Paper
You don’t get your retention money released until the Taking Over Certificate (TOC) is signed. Don’t let a missing AED 50 wheel stopper hold up a million-dirham payment.
Stock up on the finishing touches now. Be the contractor who hands over early, not the one painting concrete at midnight before the opening ceremony.
