UAE | Traffic and Transport
Sharjah residents brace for more traffic chaos on city streets
From Friday, for the next two years, Al Wahda Street in Sharjah will be inaccessible to residents and motorists as the second phase of a road improvement project in the emirate gets under way.
- By Sunita Menon, Staff Reporter
- Published: 23:49 August 10, 2008
- Image Credit: Supplied Picture
- A model of improvements to be done on Al Wahda Road in Sharjah.
Sharjah: Part of the city's key arterial highway will remain closed from Friday for at least two years as it gets ready for the second phase of an improved road network project in the emirate.
A senior official from the Public Works Department said Al Wahda Street will remain closed from Yarmouk area to the junction of King Faisal Street.
Alternatives
For commuters from and to Dubai, three alternative routes have been put in place. Alternative roads, diversions and the detours have been already put in place by the department in cooperation with Sharjah Police.
A senior official from the department said in some cases the alternative roads could take longer time "but will be devoid of any congestion".
"In every road diversion the detours and alternative routes are chalked out keeping in mind the people residing in and around the project area," he said.
Completion of this project will see traffic lights installed at the Yarmook crossroads, a double bridge measuring 175 metres at Cultural Square leading to Airport Road, the Abu Shagara crossroads will get traffic lights, there will be a tunnel measuring 535 metres leading to King Abdul Aziz Street, and another double bridge measuring 1.7km that will start from the Yarmook crossroads leading to Al Wahda Road.
A senior official from the public works department in Sharjah said a massive awareness campaign detailing the various alternative routes and detours will be launched very soon.
"Motorists and residents need not be distressed by the closure of Al Wahda Street as we have opened diversions supported by the proper traffic management.
"We want road users to be cooperative and follow the traffic signals that are being installed to make their life easier," said the official source.
In reply to a query as to whether taking these detours and alternatives will result in a longer driving time, the official source said: "In some cases it might be longer, but it will be devoid of any congestion. In every road project the detours and alternative routes are marked, keeping in mind people residing in and around the project area."
When asked if it was the right time to close Al Wahda Street with schools set to re-open and Ramadan around the corner, the official source said: "This project is not a two-month project but a two-year project. It has to be started on time to finish on time."
Gulf News spoke to some residents who live on Al Wahda Street and King Faisal Street.
Qasim Ansari, a Pakistani who lives near the Mothercat roundabout, said: "It is going to be one big nightmare coming back from work from Dubai to where I live."
Time-consuming
Shalini Govind, an Indian who lives on King Faisal Street, said: "I work in Dubai and it takes me over an hour and a half to reach my home from Al Mulla Plaza to the building where I live on King Faisal Street, but now with the road closure it is going be more time-consuming. I just hope that the alternative routes that are been laid out are congestion-free with traffic signals," she said.
Mohammad Sami, an Egyptian who lives on Al Wahda Street, said: "As long as they have traffic police manning the detours and alternatives I don't have a problem. I also want the authorities to provide us with clear directions as to where the detours and alternative routes are being created."
Have your says
Will you be affected by the partial closure of Al Wahda Street? Do you know of alternative routes to avoid traffic snarls? How do you find the traffic in Sharjah, as compared to other emirates?
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