Dubai: Lack of entry and exit points at Jumeirah Village Circle (JVC) has left residents feeling frustrated as they deal with heavy traffic congestion in the area during peak hours every day.

Both the entry and exit points located by the far side of Al Khail Road and the one-way traffic flow out of JVC is directed to the busy Al Khail Road-Hessa Street interchange. Driving back into the community is also a hassle, as most residents have two options — to drive down Al Khail Road and make a U-turn or drive 10-12km around the circular community to get to the entry gate.

With over 15,000 people living in the yet expanding community, residents are in desperate need for another exit into Hessa Street to relieve the traffic pressure and facilitate easy access to Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Road and Hessa Street.

“Coming from Al Khamila Street to JVC in the evening is also terrible as the four-lane road merges into one and causes a bottleneck situation,” said resident Eve H., 40, from Germany.

Moving to JVC around six months ago, the marketing professional said the bumper to bumper traffic on roads surrounding JVC has also created a “dangerous driving situation”. With the Al Khail Road-Hessa Street enterchange being so congested, people driving from all directions are sometimes careless and do not follow traffic rules, cutting lanes, driving on the hard shoulder, and looking for a shortcut, explained Eva.

“A bridge from Al Khamila road over Al Khail into JVC, and an additional exit from the community to Hessa Street would give residents alternatives that will reduce the traffic,” said Eva.

British resident Luke U., 42, a director in the hospitality industry in Dubai, said the traffic congestion adds an extra 10 minutes each time he goes out of JVC and back into the community. “To be 100 metres from your villa but 10 minutes away from home is frustrating,” said Luke.

The lack of entry/exit points in JVC has been an issue that residents have been dealing with for years. Moving into JVC around two years ago, Luke said there has been no change in the roads or the community to better the situation. “Going home from Hessa Street, you have to drive for 12km around the community to reach the gate. An extra exit to Hessa Street would massively improve the quality of life for people in JVC,” said Luke.

Along with the frustration of driving in heavy traffic, Luke pointed to the time and money wasted on a daily basis as a result of poor planning. “This is absolutely an issue that would make me consider moving. I am currently evaluating if it’s worth paying more rent in a development with easy access,” said Luke.

Morning traffic

Another JVC resident, Jen Wilson, 34, from England, said the morning peak hours — 7am-9.30am — are usually the worst for residents heading out to work and school. “The traffic in the morning is so backed up that everyone coming from Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Road, Sports City, and Motor City heading to Hessa Street have to take the same exit,” explained Jen. Living in JVC for four years, Jen pointed out that while there has been a start on the development of landscaping in the community over the past year or so, the request of building an additional entry/exit point to Hessa Street has not yet been addressed.

Gulf News contacted Nakheel, developer of JVC, who said the project of the new entry/exit road into JVC is currently inviting bids from construction companies. “Construction will begin when proposals have been received and evaluated, and a contractor appointed. In addition, we are assessing proposals for traffic signals within the community itself, and expect this work to begin shortly,” said the spokesperson.

A time frame has not been set for the completion of the project.