UAE | Traffic and Transport
Motorists travelling to Dubai stuck in traffic for hours
Motorists driving from Sharjah to Dubai on Sunday morning were caught in traffic jams for hours, causing many to be late for work.
- By Ashfaq Ahmed, Chief Reporter
- Published: 23:15 February 8, 2009
- Image Credit: Atiq-Ur-Rehman/Gulf News
- Vehicles move slowly on Emirates Road to Dubai from Sharjah. The traffic started building up on all the Sharjah roads after an early morning accident involving two buses on Tawuun Road.
Dubai: Motorists driving from Sharjah to Dubai on Sunday morning were caught in traffic jams for hours, causing many to be late for work.
"Traffic on Sundays, being the first working day after the weekend, is usually bad but today it was horrific as there was no way out of Sharjah to reach Dubai," said a motorist who remained stuck in traffic on Tawuun Road for more than two hours.
The traffic started building up on all the Sharjah roads after an early morning accident involving two buses on Tawuun Road blocked that road. This forced motorists to take alternative roads which were also blocked due to long tailbacks and a heavy flow of vehicles including trucks.
A number of people tried sandy tracks in Al Mamzar area and behind Sahara Centre in a bid to get out of Sharjah. Though some succeeded, a number of them also got stuck in sand.
"I managed to drive away from Al Ittihad Road after I remained stuck for more than one and half hours and decided to try my luck on Al Tawuun Road, but traffic police forced the motorists to drive back to Sharjah and I found myself again in front of my house in Al Majaz area after two hours of driving around," Kamaluddin Ahmad, a businessman told Gulf News. Ahmad surprised his wife when he went back home at 11am, had a cup of tea and ventured out again at around 12 noon.
"There was a little improvement and this time, I managed to reach Beirut Road, driving through the industrial area for about one hour. It was all clear once I entered Dubai through Beirut Road but I missed my appointments," he added.
A number of motorists also called up Gulf News to complain about one of the worst traffic jams in Sharjah. Although there are four alternative roads connecting Dubai and Sharjah traffic jams still occur. Many working in Dubai live in Sharjah because of high Dubai rents and commute every morning and evening.
Have you experienced problems going to work? Have you noticed an increase in traffic congestion? Or has it been smooth sailing to work? Fill in the form bellow to send your comments
Your comments
I usually go to Jebel Ali at 5am and the situation at that time will give a clear picture of how heavy vehicles move from one lane to another without giving an indication . Their entry to fast tracks also creates great difficulties to motorists driving in small vehicles
Sudeep Surendran
Dubai,UAE
Posted: February 09, 2009, 13:09
I travel from Sharjah Industrial Area 17 to Abu Hail everyday. I have to pass the National Paints roundabout where I normally wait in traffic for around 40 minutes just to get on to Sharjah Ring Road. Then there is more traffic in Al Nahda Road. The same route back home at night takes me around 30 minutes, where as in the morning it takes me an hour and 20 minutes.
Shamieg Harris
Sharjah,UAE
Posted: February 09, 2009, 11:45
We are all very much familiar about this problem. I hope we are going to have some solution to this by the middle of 2009 - when the expansion of Dubai roads are completed. I do not know if Sharjah will get more congested, as we don't have any completion for the Al Wahda project.
I believe that the Sharjah road authorities will be able to help us when they complete their expansion projects.
Raj
Sharjah,UAE
Posted: February 09, 2009, 11:26
For the past 10 days I have experienced severe traffic congestion in Sharjah, from Al Qasimiya to Sharjah Airport. Usually it takes me 30 minutes to reach the airport, but now it is taking me almost an hour and a half. I really don't know what had happened in the past two weeks in Sharjah.
Vasan
Sharjah,UAE
Posted: February 09, 2009, 11:21
Commuting from Sharjah to Dubai is always tiresome during peak hours. Yesterday was worse as most people had to cancel their meetings and appointments. Even today the situation is same. Al Ittihad road is completely blocked. People search for alternate routes to reach Dubai. People going to work face this situation almost everyday and get frustrated. Some solution for this problem needs to be sought soon.
Naina Nair
Sharjah,UAE
Posted: February 09, 2009, 10:41
I have always been facing problems while reaching work, the traffic is worst now and as usual on Al Tawoun.
The Police can close all the shortcuts coming from here and there and may be it would ease the situation.
Bahadur Khan
Sharjah,UAE
Posted: February 09, 2009, 10:10
Yes, for the past two days we are facing the same problem. This is because of diversions and road works after the Galadari underpass. Earlier, the diversion between Deira and Al Garhoud was very far away from Galadari but now it is very close to it and causing a traffic problem from Sharjah to Dubai.
Zia Al Huda
Dubai,UAE
Posted: February 09, 2009, 09:55
I suggest the RTA puts a complete fullstop to the pickups using one or two lane roads. While driving to Jebel Ali in the morning, I see buses transporting labourers racing with the trailers.
Usha
Dubai,UAE
Posted: February 09, 2009, 07:10
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