Dubai: Motorists commuting between Sharjah and Dubai are angry over the perpetual closure of Al Mamzar Road (Exit 66) on Al Ittihad Road.
The demand for the opening of the Exit 66 on Al Ittihad Road leading towards Cairo Road (commonly known Al Mamzar road) while driving from Sharjah to Dubai, has increased, especially after road diversions on the most congested highway. Parts of Al Ittihad Road have been closed between Al Nahada intersection (Al Mullah Roundabout) and Al Qiyada intersection (Galadari intersection) for the last six months due to Al Ittihad Road expansion work.
"I don't understand why the Al Mamzar Interchange on Al Ittihad Road was built in the first place if the authority has to keep a vital exit closed," said Mohammad Jasem, a UAE national. He called it a waste of money if the motorists still have to suffer in traffic congestion.
Al Mamzar interchange was built in 2002 but the Exit 66 towards Cairo Street was closed soon after its opening on the pretext that the road is used by trucks going to the old Fruit and Vegetable Market in Al Hamriya.
The exit was reopened in 2004 after the vegetable market was shifted to Al Warsen area on Emirates Road. But, it was closed again within 50 days of its opening on the pretext that it increased traffic on the internal roads of Deira such as Cairo Street, Al Wuheida Street and Al Khaleej Road, which leads to Al Shindagha tunnel.
The Exit 66 has now been closed for more than three years while motorists commuting from Sharjah to Dubai continued to face delays due to massive traffic jams on Al Ittihad Road.
The Dubai Roads and Transport Authority did not comment on the issue but an official said the exit is kept closed because it created traffic congestion in residential areas of Deira.
Promises
It was earlier promised that the exit would be opened after improvement of internal roads and replacing of roundabouts in Deira area with intersections. But despite a number of road improvement projects in that area, motorists are still waiting for the exit to open.
"I would call it discrimination because motorists are allowed to use this interchange while commuting from Dubai to Sharjah using the Cairo Street but they are not allowed to use the same road while travelling from Sharjah to Dubai," said Steve, a British national.
Also, he said people living in Al Qusais area are also allowed to use the same road. "I have to go around to reach Cairo Street after driving through a much longer route passing through Sharjah Ring Road, Damascus Road, Amman Road and then to Baghdad Road.
"With the opening of the Exit 66, hundreds of motorists will not only save time but also fuel. It will also ease traffic on Al Ittihad Road," he noted.
Your comments
There has to be a bridge over the sea, between Sharjah via Mamzar leading to Jumeirah and Jebel Ali ... This will solve all problems.
Junaid
Dubai,UAE
Posted: November 04, 2007, 17:00
Why are Sharjah residents always whinging? Live in Sharjah, work in Dubai, take the consequences. Al Mamzar is in Dubai, if you don't like it use another route or move to Dubai.
Barry
Abu Dhabi,UAE
Posted: November 04, 2007, 15:15
Can they install a Salik system on Mamzar exit and people pay to use that exit? The money raised can be used to develop the roads in that area.
Asad
Sharjah,UAE
Posted: November 04, 2007, 15:08
Well, they should open up the exit as the majority of people are working in Dubai and staying in Sharjah, so it will be a wise decision to help the majority rather than the minority by opening up the exit.
Taqi
Sharjah,UAE
Posted: November 04, 2007, 14:54
50 per cent of commuters are in favour of opening of Exit 66 and 50 per cent not. Therefore, placing Salik at Exit 66 would be the right solution for the RTA. The Garhoud Bridge is already too crowded at peak times.
G.K.
Dubai,UAE
Posted: November 04, 2007, 14:20
It will cause heavy traffic at Shindaga and will lead to major traffic instability, please get it closed.
Sayeed
Dubai,India
Posted: November 04, 2007, 14:08
The RTA should definitely open this road. Even though we use the Salik everyday, the mornings are a nightmare from Sharjah to Dubai - this includes children studying in Dubai (Al Nahda area) who have to leave home by 5:45am to reach by 8am - opening of this road would ease their travel time.
Lorraine
Dubai,UAE
Posted: November 04, 2007, 10:46
The exit should not be reopened as it will worsened the traffic situation in the residential areas in Deira. Already there is traffic congestion near Baraha towards Naif/Shindaga and opening of the exit will divert the traffic in this heavily populated residential areas which will be dangerous as well as there will be increase in accidents due to presence of large numbers of nurseries.
Mustafa
Dubai,UAE
Posted: November 04, 2007, 10:36
Yes exit 66 it should be open to public, why is RTA is not responding the request by the public, its really big problem faced by people.
Muhi
Dubai,UAE
Posted: November 04, 2007, 10:31
I hope they never open it. Residents already face enough traffic over there with worst workers dirvers. So please keep it closed forever.
Ahmad
Dubai,UAE
Posted: November 04, 2007, 10:10
The RTA should open Al Mamzar Road, Exit 66 immediately to ease the congestion. Though I am a Dubai resident, I feel very bad knowing that other motorists are suffering.
Hameed
Dubai,UAE
Posted: November 04, 2007, 09:57
I do not think it is wise to open Exit 66 as this would increase traffic inside Dubai, and create trouble for Dubai residents who already have enough problems with Salik and traffic congestion.
Abdul
Dubai,UAE
Posted: November 04, 2007, 09:05
Authorities should look into the matter seriously so that the common man would get some relief instead of wasting time on the Itihad Road while going towards Dubai from Sharjah.
Ravi
Sharjah,UAE
Posted: November 04, 2007, 08:56
If you were driving from Sharjah and needed to exit to Mamzar or Al Qusais, then you would need to go all the way to Al Mulla junction and then take a turn. Traffic is forever a bottleneck there. If this exit is used, the driver could avoid the jam ahead and this could also reduce traffic on the Al Mulla junction.
Ghazi
dubai,UAE
Posted: November 04, 2007, 08:55
Exit 66 should be opened for traffic to ease congestion in the Abu Hail area.
Shahid
Dubai,UAE
Posted: November 04, 2007, 08:52
The exit was closed since it was affecting residential areas of Al Mamzar. But I am not sure if this was actually effective in solving the problem.
Baquar
dubai,UAE
Posted: November 04, 2007, 08:41
When the exit was opened in 2004, the volume of traffic dramatically increased on Al Ittihad road, which clogged the roads around Deira and Al Ghusais. In the same period, the traffic on Emirates Road decreased. If the exit is reopened again now, maybe situation would be worst since commuters from Sharjah will never use Emirates road.
Sunil
Dubai,UAE
Posted: November 04, 2007, 08:31
By opening Al Mamzar road, traffic will be reduced because the internal roads are already expanded. As a trial, the authority has to arrange to open the same exit as soon as possible.
Mubarak
Sharjah,UAE
Posted: November 04, 2007, 08:22
I feel that the blockage of Exit 66 on the Mamzar interchange is right. There is already too much congestion on the roads leading to Deira. If this exit is opened, then we would have a massive traffic jam.
Taher
Dubai,U.A.E
Posted: November 04, 2007, 08:14
It is high time to open the Mamzar exit. Today, it took me one hour to cross the All Tawun roundabout to reach Al Mullah.
Nair
Dubai,UAE
Posted: November 04, 2007, 07:54
