Traffic at a standstill as new Salik gates come into effect

Dubai: Traffic congestion was at its worst yesterday in the emirate, especially at key road exits, a senior police official said.

The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) on Tuesday started operating the second phase of the Toll Gates System (Salik) on Al Maktoum Bridge and at Al Safa.

Video: Commuters try to find new routes to avoid Salik

The first phase of the system covered two gates, on Al Garhoud Bridge and Al Barsha on Shaikh Zayed Road, which became operational in July 2007.

Lieutenant Colonel Saif Muhair Al Mazroui, Acting Director of Dubai Police's Traffic Department, said almost all the roads witnessed heavy traffic congestion and motorists got stuck for hours.

He said the number of traffic police patrols and motorcycles were increased to cope with the large numbers of cars at exits such as Defence Roundabout Bridge, Al Barsha and Al Qouz Industrial areas.

"Yesterday was the worst day in terms of traffic on the roads because many motorists got stuck for hours and children whose schools are located in Al Wasl and Al Qouz could not reach their schools until 10am or later," Lt Col Al Mazroui said.

He said traffic police have also reported a large number of traffic offences and minor accidents.

"The alternative routes, especially the exits cannot accommodate the extra load of vehicles. Emirates Road was blocked in both directions and trucks had to pull over to the side of the road in an attempt to reduce congestion," Lt Col Al Mazroui said. Shindagha Tunnel, Al Khail Road, Floating Bridge and Al Wasl Road also witnessed heavy traffic and long tailbacks.

Chaotic scenes

Other roads across Dubai and Sharjah also faced heavy traffic. The trip to work was extended by about an hour for many commuters as motorists tried to avoid the new toll gates.

It took some motorists more than two-and- half hours to reach Shaikh Zayed Road from Al Khan area in Sharjah via Al Maktoum Bridge. On Al Ittihad Road, heading from Sharjah to Dubai and till the Dnata traffic signal in Deira, motorists faced heavily congested roads, but in an unusual sight the traffic was very smooth at the Clock Roundabout and on Al Maktoum Bridge as commuters used the Floating Bridge to avoid the toll.

Some commuters said it took them more than 40 minutes to cross the Floating Bridge. On Shaikh Zayed Road, the sight of congested roads was not very different as there was a kilometre-long tailback of cars from the Defence Roundabout Bridge as it was the last free exit before the Al Safa toll gate. "It took me about an hour to drive from the Trade Centre to the Defence Roundabout exit today. This is unbelievable," said a taxi driver who spent another hour on the kilometre-long road from Deira in a separate trip.

The traffic came to a standstill from Al Khail Road to the Al Safa interchange on Tuesday morning.

The traffic also snarled on the usually free Sharjah-Dubai Bypass Road.

"Horrible" is not the word. It took me almost 1 hour to travel from Bur Dubai to Sheikh Zayed Road (Burj Dubai). There was absolutely no place for cars to move on the 1st interchange as every one was trying to avoid salik. The tolls are not solving any problem but are increasing them :-(
Gopal
Dubai,UAE
Posted: September 09, 2008, 12:10

The traffic situation in Dubai will never improve, unless we either have less cars or more roads. Salik is merely like sticking a patch on an old, leaky pipe, only for the pipe to burst a few inches further down. Salik isn't solving any problems, it's only re-locating the traffic from one area to another, and making the situation worse.
Jessica H.
Dubai,UAE
Posted: September 09, 2008, 12:08

With Salik the traffic has become worse every where. .. Now Al Wasl road is unbearable. So many people try to avoid Salik even the intersection, I think Salik made the roads much worse than before. At least the inside roads were clear.. Now everywhere there is traffic.
Fatma
Dubai,U.A.E
Posted: September 09, 2008, 12:07

It takes me a good part of 1 hour to reach my office at the DIFC from my home, which is near the DNATA signal, Diera. Today, I literally flew across Maktoum Bridge and was in office in less than 25 mins. Salik - good going!!
Debjani
Dubai,UAE
Posted: September 09, 2008, 11:52

I live in Sharja and normaly it takes 1.5 hour to reach my work in Sheikh zayed road,however today it took 3.5 hour and yesterday as well,please solve out the Etihad road problem it is real frustrating and quite big issue,
Hussam
Dubai,U.A.E
Posted: September 09, 2008, 11:48

The traffic will never reduce if the government put 100 salik gates. Sharjah government never expand the road and Dubai government never expand the Al Mulla underpass and the normal public will suffer.
Sameer
Sharjah,UAE
Posted: September 09, 2008, 11:36

I usually take the floating bridge during morning rush hours. Surprisingly it was jam packed at 9am, with bumper-to-bumper traffic which delayed my journey by 20mins. But I guess its a good move, since commuters can always opt for the Maktoum bridge with free flowing traffic now that salik is in place.
Mark
Dubai,UAE
Posted: September 09, 2008, 11:31

What a great idea it was to put in these two new toll gates. Now all the traffic is in the residential areas. Did you not see that coming? So I suppose the next toll gates will be on Al Wasl Road and the Beach Road.
Mike
Dubai,UAE
Posted: September 09, 2008, 11:28

Well I dont wanna say much but it took me about 52 mins to work from Satwa to Al Quoz.
Rowan
Dubai,UAE
Posted: September 09, 2008, 11:14

Today was a bad day on the roads. All alternative roads like Al Wasl and Jumeirah were clogged. Long tail backs of traffic were to be seen.
Ruben
Dubai,UAE
Posted: September 09, 2008, 11:10

I left home early but it took more than usual to get the bus and reach on duty it was really frustrating. I never got to work so late.
Basil
Dubai,UAE
Posted: September 09, 2008, 11:03

Normally it takes 1 hour and 30 mins to reach office from Sharjah to Jebel Ali. But today everywhere it was jam packed and it took 3 hours to get to my office in Jebel Ali. I don't know why traffic is getting worse everyday. There is no use for Salik. As the road connected to the salik are always jam packed you can never go freely in peak hours no matter what.
Zeeshan
Sharjah,UAE
Posted: September 09, 2008, 11:02

It took me 1 hour to reach office today as compared to normally 20 minutes. Both Airport Rd and the Business Bay Rd towards Garhoud were TOTALLY CLOGGED. Crazy traffic, I hope things improve on the roads during the rest of Ramadan.
Fazila
Dubai,UAE
Posted: September 09, 2008, 10:59

It took 2 hours to reach from Qusais to DSO, reaching to some places Maktoum bridge is the only and efficient way and when there is salik on that you will see the same situation daily.
Ameen
Dubai,UAE
Posted: September 09, 2008, 10:55

I live in Riggat Al Buteen, in Deira and my normal morning commute to work on Sheikh Zayed Road, by the Crowne Plaza usually takes about 20-25 minutes, door to door, but this morning, to my pleasant surprise, it took me just 8 minutes. Well done to the RTA for installing new Salik Gates and for clearing up the horrendous traffic on Maktoum Bridge. Paying an extra 8 Dirhams everyday to enjoy a traffic free commute to and from work is well worth it.
Gary
Dubai,United Arab Emirates
Posted: September 09, 2008, 10:38

It took me around 25 -30 minutes to cross floating bridge from Dnata signal, normally it takes 5 - 10 minutes. The main problem is the signal timing is very short. If the signal timing is increased this can be solved for a little.
Samuel
Dubai,India
Posted: September 09, 2008, 10:36

The traffic was quite clear on Emirates road till Jebel Ali early in the morning. The new toll would be very helpful to people working in Jebel Ali and living in Dubai as they would take less time to reach home. Moreover the toll need to be paid only once so I am sure Jebel Ali workers would be quite happy.
Harminder
Dubai,UAE
Posted: September 09, 2008, 10:33