Dubai
The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) in Dubai need to consider implementing restricted timings for the deployment of heavy trucks on Emirates Road, between Jebel Ali and Sharjah.
I’d like to bring to the kind attention of the RTA that such trucks are mostly sand dumpers or glass-carrying vehicles, which are loaded so heavily that they are unable to move as per the speed limit allowed to them. This results in long tailbacks, which disrupts traffic and the daily travel routine of a lot of residents.
Why don’t the concerned authorities limit the timings of such heavy trucks to between 3pm to 5pm or 9.30pm onwards, on all roads in Dubai, including Emirates Road? This step would go a long way in helping residents travel from their offices to their homes within a short span of time, instead of wasting over one hour in travelling only. This route should ideally take only 45 minutes.
The stress we are all suffering from, on a daily basis, when driving on this road is too painful to handle. You can reach from Jebel Ali to the interchange linking it to Sharjah, within 45 minutes, but to go towards Emirates Road is a real nightmare. One can find trucks lined up at the entrance of the industrial area. Additionally, there are roadworks in the area these days, which is another cause for the traffic. This causes three lanes to merge into two. During such congestion, where heavy trucks do not give way to small vehicles or buses, one has to surely overtake and cross in front of them.
Sometimes, there are police patrols present in the area, and they issue fines to motorists who are seen overtaking the trucks to cross the bridge. This can be resolved if the trucks were banned on this road during the period between 5pm to 8pm, which is when most office-goers cross the area to reach their destination.
I commute along this route every day. Heavy vehicle drivers are timebound to finish their trips or deliver their goods at a scheduled place and at an appointed time, but the authorities could work out an amicable solution in this matter.
It is a matter of concern to me, because we too, have an aim of reaching home safe and sound after a hard day’s work. If the authorities could come up with a solution, either by changing the timings or widening the roads, I assure them each one of us would be able to enjoy better health and quality time with family.
I request the concerned authorities to please consider my issue and revise the timings of trucks in order to allow other vehicles to travel with ease during peak rush hours.
— The reader is based in Sharjah.
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Editor’s note: The reader’s concerns were raised with the management of the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA). However, despite repeated reminders, they did not respond.
According to a Gulf News report published in February 2017, traffic between Dubai and Sharjah is likely to ease once a new link between Mohammad Bin Zayed Road and Emirates Road gets completed. The 12-kilometre link, with a 5.3 kilometre extension of Tripoli road, connecting the two major highways running between the emirates, will offer an alternative to thousands of motorists. The extension, along with the ongoing upgrade of Emirates Road-Maliha road interchange, is likely to ease evening traffic between Dubai and Sharjah.
