UAE | Traffic and Transport
Salik compounds worries ahead of peak season
Motorists avoiding the toll gates now face heavy traffic jams as the alternative routes have become even more congested since the launch of Salik on July 1, residents said.
- By Ashfaq Ahmed, Staff Reporter
- Published: 00:06 July 24, 2007
- Congestion at the intersection near Deira City Centre where the road from the Floating Bridge meets the other roads.
- Image Credit: Megan Hirons/Gulf News
Dubai: Motorists avoiding the toll gates now face heavy traffic jams as the alternative routes have become even more congested since the launch of Salik on July 1, residents said.
People say the alternative routes are more congested now and it takes them at least 30 to 50 minutes more to reach their destinations, especially in the crowded Central Business District areas of Deira and Bur Dubai.
The number of motorists using Al Shindagha Tunnel and Al Maktoum Bridge have increase manifold since Salik was launched, as they try to avoid the toll to save a few dirhams every day.
Frustrating
"It took me three hours to reach the Al Mamzar area in Deira from Al Wasl Road," said Stephen, who took Al Mina Road and Al Khaleej Road to cross the creek through the tunnel.
"It is very frustrating because more motorists are now taking this route to avoid Salik on Shaikh Zayed Road. And the worst part is that many motorists do not follow traffic rules and start cutting through lanes making the situation even worse," he said.
Motorists, who were happy with the opening of the Floating Bridge as an alternative crossing over Dubai Creek to avoid Al Garhoud Bridge, have also started feeling the brunt as they get struck in traffic as soon as they cross the Floating Bridge towards Deira.
"Since the opening of the new bridge, the traffic flow towards Deira has increased a lot leading to heavy congestion on Al Ittihad Road, Baniyas Road, Al Maktoum Road and even Airport Road," said Imran Shaikh, who commutes between Shaikh Zayed Road and Sharjah every day. He said the authorities concerned should first complete the road works to give clear access to motorists. He said he even tried the Al Garhoud Bridge.
"The drive on the toll road is good but as soon as you cross Al Garhoud Bridge towards Deira, you face heavy traffic congestion again," he said.
An official at the Dubai Roads and Transport Authority had said earlier that Salik would reduce traffic congestion by 25 per cent on Shaikh Zayed Road. "It seems this traffic has moved to already congested alternative routes making life even more miserable for motorists," said a motorist.
The RTA introduced Salik on July 1 this year with toll points at Al Garhoud Bridge and at the Fourth Interchange near Mall of the Emirates on Shaikh Zayed Road.
Motorists are charged Dh4 every time they pass through a toll gate.
First phase: Expanded Emirates Road to open in August
The first phase of Emirates Road expansion will be completed next month, said a senior official. The Emirates Road from Sharjah border to Al Aweer Intersection in Dubai with six lanes in each direction will open in August, said Mattar Al Tayer, Chairman of the Board and Executive Director of the Roads and Transport Authority.
Al Tayer, who inspected various road projects yesterday, said the expanded Emirates Road would reduce congestion on this vital highway, which is currently used by 10,000 vehicles per hour in each direction.
The 33-km stretch of the highway from Sharjah border to Jebel Ali, is being expanded from three to six lanes in each direction at the cost of Dh333 million. The project started on June 17 and is expected to finish within 420 days.
Have your say
Do you have a Salik tag? How has your experience with the service been? Tell us by using the comments form below.
Your comments
I do not plan on ever using a toll gate but expect that more gates will soon come and paying more road-use fees is inevitable. Salik did not solve our congestion problems.
German
Dubai,UAE
Posted: July 24, 2007, 14:27
Even though Salik is a good idea, launching it without alternatives is like some one cleaning a room and hiding the dust under the carpet.
Ibrahim
Dubai,UAE
Posted: July 24, 2007, 12:00
Since the Salik started the already congested Salahuddin road became worst and it takes an hour for me to reach our office in Maktoum Road when before I could reach our office within 15 minutes.
Elean
Dubai,UAE
Posted: July 24, 2007, 11:48
Salik is not the answer to Dubai?s congestion. Alternate public transport methods should be developed. The peak season is about to start. I am seriously thinking of leaving this country as inflation is too high. Of course it is disguised as other things are. The beautiful Dubai bubble I think, is about to burst....
Rajiv
Dubai,UAE
Posted: July 24, 2007, 09:30
I was expecting worse on the alternative roads after Salik. It was true for the first few days. Now motorists are adjusted to the situation and the traffic is almost spread out evenly. For the first week of July I used Salik tollgates, now I use alternative routes from Muhaisinah to Jebal Ali without any problem. Salik has made motorists fully utilize all the available roads, instead of using the same SZR and Garhoud bridge.
Hussain
Dubai,UAE
Posted: July 24, 2007, 09:28
My husband and I drive daily from Al Twar (Qussais) all the way till the Marina and use both routes, Shindagha as well as Shaikh Zayed Road. Although we use Shaikh Zayed Road to reach our destination faster, we still face traffic jams at bottle necks. As we get off Al Garhoud and use any route thereafter ? they are blocked. With the toll we do avoid a bit of the traffic but the bottle necks are blocked always. I am just wondering about the situation when schools reopen or when every one is back from summer vacations....
Razia Zeeshan
Dubai,UAE
Posted: July 24, 2007, 09:24
Not everyone who does not use Garhoud bridge is trying to avoid the toll. I travel from Deira to Bur Dubai and I don't have to use the bridge, or the SZR toll gate. But I am still suffering from the Salik effects due to increased congestion on the roads. I sympathise with those who are avoiding Garhoud because I know what the addition of even a few dirhams a day can do to the monthly budget, and RTA needs to take the interests of the common man into account.
Umaima
Dubai,UAE
Posted: July 24, 2007, 08:47
I have not purchased a Salik tag because I have heard that many who purchased it have not yet received any confirmation SMS or do not know their account number where they can check balance or recharge.
Mathew
Dubai,UAE
Posted: July 24, 2007, 08:19
I live in Deira and I work in DIC. Salik brought two differences in my life: 1. I have to take a bit longer route to avoid SZR toll gate; 2. I take a longer time on the road as traffic increased at both Shindaga and Maktoum crossings.
Vikas
Dubai,UAE
Posted: July 24, 2007, 08:11
Until now I still do not have Salik since the application forms are not always available.
Nath
Dubai,UAE
Posted: July 24, 2007, 08:07
The Salik sensors can not seem to sense the Salik sticker through a BMW car. So, people driving BMWs and crossing the toll gate are not charged at the moment. I called the Salik toll free number and was told that they are facing problems with the BMW windscreens. It would be appropriate for them to address such issues to the public via the media so people do not have to worry over why they have not been charged and if they will be fined.
Evon
Sharjah,UAE
Posted: July 24, 2007, 07:32
I visited Dubai two weeks ago and I also took the Jumeirah/Al Khaleej route to the Shindagha tunnel to reach Abu Hail. I was stuck on the that strip of road for more than three hours.
Wissam
Abu Dhabi,UAE
Posted: July 24, 2007, 07:27
Salik is a good idea. However, more needs to be done to promote car pooling. Shifting traffic to alternate routes is not the answer. People should consider that car pooling can reduce up to four out of every five cars on the road.
Rauf
Calgary,Canada
Posted: July 24, 2007, 06:01
Salik is good but the frustrating part is that there are bottlenecks at different points. Salik should be charged on a special road that is totally bottleneck free.
Ash
Dubai,UAE
Posted: July 24, 2007, 03:45
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