Motorists left in lurch by numerous diversions

Dubai: Contrary to traffic plans, the complete closure of Shaikh Zayed Road, the lifeline of Dubai, from the Mall of the Emirates to Al Garhoud Bridge, left most of the city paralysed on Monday.

The road diversion plans announced by Dubai Roads and Transport Authority and the Police for the arrival of US President George W Bush yesterday were changed without any intimation leaving thousands of motorists wandering on the roads.

Although traffic was comparatively thin due to the public holiday in Dubai, motorists kept on struggling for about nine hours from 6am to 3pm to get to their destinations.

All exits and entries to and from Shaikh Zayed Road were blocked contrary to the earlier plan that motorists would be able to cross Shaikh Zayed Road from the Defence Roundabout [First Interchange] and the Second Interchange [Al Safa] to travel to and from Emirates Road and Al Wasl and Jumeria Roads.

This major unannounced change led to traffic chaos as people had to wait for several hours to get to the other side of Shaikh Zayed Road.

Vital highway

Al Khail Road, another vital highway, which runs parallel to Shaikh Zayed also remained closed from 6am to 2.30pm upsetting motorists even more.

Traffic movement between Deira and Bur Dubai was cut off as all the bridges and the tunnel connecting two parts along the Dubai Creek were also kept closed.

Although Emirates Road was the only highway open, it was of no use to people who wanted to go on Shaikh Zayed Road, Al Wasl Road and Jumeirah Road.

Arterial roads along Shaikh Zayed Road remained crowded as motorists continued to negotiate traffic jams and road closures to reach their destinations.

"All the linking roads connecting Al Wasl and Jumeirah Road to other parts of the city were closed. I missed my flight to the UK," said Hubaida, a tourist.

Thousands of passengers remained stranded due to lack of public transport and taxis. Passengers who landed at the airport could not reach their homes or hotels for several hours.

There were a few taxis on the road as there were not many passengers. "Most of my colleagues stayed home today ... and also there are barely any passengers," said a taxi driver, who parked his car near Desert Spring Village on Shaikh Zayed Road waiting for the roads to open.

A restaurant manager said, "Food went to waste today because we did not get 10 per cent of our regular customers."

Many motorists ran out of petrol while trying to find their way to their destinations. "It is frustrating because there aren't any petrol stations around," said Chris, a British national, who parked his car on Emirates Road waiting for help at noon.

Tanveer Khan, a businessman, said the cost of the one-day shutdown in Dubai was very high. "It should not have come as a surprise because many suffered losses," he added.