Dubai: Additional lanes on both sides of Amman Street in Al Nahda have helped reduce traffic tailbacks considerably.

The busy road has been widened on both sides, adding to its capacity and making life easier for residents.

The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) completed the road development work on Amman Street as well as in Al Nahda 1 area, where the capacity has been doubled.

“Going through the Al Nahda interchange and the Baghdada-Amman junction in the evening used to be a nightmare, particularly in the evenings. Now with additional tracks heading straight on Amman Street as well on the left turn towards Al Nahda 1, life has been made easier,” said Syed Safdar, who lives in Al Nahda 1.

Morning and evening traffic tailbacks are regular sights in the area, which is also used by Salik dodgers heading to Sharjah, apart from Al Nahda residents.

“It used to take around 15 to 20 minutes just to travel between two traffic lights which are just 250 metres away from each other, but the addition of just a couple of lanes has made a world of difference. It now takes just five minutes between the two traffic lights even during peak hours,” said Safdar, who is a long-time Nahda resident.

Coming from Al Nahda interchange and entering Amman Street used to lead to a bottleneck which has now been cleared.

“There used to be only two tracks heading straight on Amman Street and there was only one track heading into Al Nahda. Traffic from different directions used to converge and create a bottleneck. We are so glad that RTA realised the problem and worked to solve it quickly. It is much better now,” said Mohammad Basheer.

Roadworks were completed recently and residents have heaved a big sigh of relief. However, there are still a few worries.

“Half of the traffic on Amman Street is due to Salik dodgers taking alternative routes to Sharjah and I am afraid, with the improvement to the road, more Salik dodgers could spoil the party,” said Safdar.

Mohammad Yousuf, another resident of Al Nahda, is happy with the roadworks, but feels two tracks on each side inside Al Nahda 1 would have been better.

“I am happy with the outcome of the roadworks. It has definitely improved the situation. Entry and exit to and from Al Nahda 1 has become easier but I thought after all the work they have done, additional tracks on the internal roads would have been even better,” said Mohammad Yousuf, an engineer and longtime Al Nahda resident.

RTA expects at least a 25 per cent improvement in the traffic situation with the expansion of the road.