Traffic chaos in run-up to opening of Dubai Mall

Dubai Motorists were stuck for hours on Shaikh Zayed and Doha Roads after the 'Access 1' entrance/exit to Burj Dubai was closed.

It has been closed since Sunday, according to residents.

The traffic has been tailing back on the Burj Dubai side of Doha Road, also clogging up the Dubai-bound flow on Shaikh Zayed Road.

One Old Town resident, who works in the Emaar Business Park and did not wish to be named, said: "Access 1 has been closed for two days now. Yesterday I had to walk home and today I walked to work, and it took my colleague one hour to get out of the car park. The entire area has been gridlocked. Emaar has put up notices saying that it will be closed until further notice.

Fast-track works

Occurring just two days before Dubai Mall opens, concerns are growing that traffic will be chaotic.

Hussain Al Bana, Director of the Traffic Department, at the RTA's Traffic and Road Agency confirmed that the traffic jam had not been caused by any work by the RTA on Doha Road or the Ras Al Khor interchange.

"There was an access road to Burj Dubai that has been closed by Emaar in preparation for the opening of Dubai Mall. This is nothing to do with the RTA," he said.

An Emaar spokesperson said: "Road work is currently undertaken on a fast-track basis to execute vital traffic infrastructure for smoothening the traffic flow."

Update: Interchange partly open

The Roads and Transport Authority has opened part of the Jumeirah Lakes Towers interchange (No 5.5) from Shaikh Zayed Road.

It has been opened towards Jumeirah Lakes Towers and Jumeirah Islands and vice versa. Further sections of the interchange are due to be opened by the end of November.

The project started in July 2006 at an estimated cost of Dh145 million, consisting of a main bridge, providing access roads and a direct connection to Shaikh Zayed Road, parallel roads and Emarat Street.

- Staff Report