Residents welcome move to replace Al Houdh roundabout
Drivers expect a significant reduction in their travel time
Dubai: Residents welcomed the move to replace the Al Houdh roundabout with a multi-tier crossing as it aims to give much-needed relief to motorists and reduce traffic congestion on the way to residences and workplaces.
The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) on Sunday announced that it expects Dubai-bound traffic passing through Al Houdh roundabout on Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Road to ease once it is converted into an interchange.
The huge signalised roundabout, often called Dock roundabout, serves Dubai Investment Park (DIP) and various zones in Jebel Ali. It also connects Dubai-bound and Abu Dhabi-bound traffic via Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Road.
“It’s a good thing because the morning and evening traffic is really causing us a lot of problems,” Imran Allah Shaikh, a Pakistani driver of staff buses, told Gulf News.
“I pass by the same junction several times a day and sometimes, because of the traffic congestion, we don’t get to follow our scheduled pick-up and drop-off times,” he added.
Hayley Strifler, who drives from Jumeirah Village Triangle to The Greens Community in DIP every day, said it could help.
“If it reduces traffic, it’s fantastic. Driving from where I live to my workplace, which is not that far, takes around 35 minutes to one hour if traffic is bad. It could get very frustrating,” Strifler said.
Besides the long tailbacks of both light and heavy vehicles, safety is also an issue at the big roundabout.
“Fixing the roundabout is not the only issue. They also need to fix the entry to DIP as it narrows down to two lanes after the right turn from the roundabout. That’s my biggest concern,” Fahd Ali, who drives to DIP twice a week, said. “It’s a good move. It’ll save me around 10 to 15 minutes every time.”
Sharon B., a Filipino nurse who lives in Dunes Village inside DIP, agreed.
“Besides the traffic congestion in the area, it’s also unsafe as it is prone to accidents. People try to beat the red light and brake recklessly. Our driver has had two accidents at the same roundabout because of people who tailgate.”
The Dh227 million project, whose awarding was announced on Saturday, will be constructed over 24 months. It will also cover other works such as street lighting, storm water drainage systems, traffic signals, and road markings, in addition to utility works as needed by service providers in the area.
