Sharjah: Major diversions have been put in place for maintenance work on Sharjah’s King Faisal Street, increasing traffic on alternative routes.
The maintenance work started on Saturday and will last until September 20, a notice from the Sharjah Roads and Transport Authority said.
All exits from the major road into neighbouring districts are closed as the road heads straight to the Central Market in a three-lane diversion. Signs directing drivers to “please take alternative road” and obey new speed signs have come up on the road.
The diversions mean motorists can no longer use the road to access the crowded Abu Shagara area. Those coming from Al Wahda Street now have to go till the first traffic signal and make a U-turn to access Abu Shagara. Alternatively, they can take the exit for King Faisal Street at King Faisal Bridge and travel all the way down to the Central Market and go right towards Immigration Road (King Abdul Aziz Street), which also leads to Abu Shagara.
Traffic on both these routes has increased following the diversions. “I was stuck on Immigration Road and asked people if there was an accident ahead. They said the rush was because of the diversion. I lost my patience and took the service lane exit as I estimated it would take me 20-25 minutes to reach Abu Shagara at this rate,” a Pakistani motorist said.
The diversions are part of phase one of maintenance works “in order to upgrade and maintain Sharjah City roads”, the notice adds.
