Traffic heavy as 'Salik' takes its toll

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Dubai's new road toll system is easing traffic flows in some parts of the city, but causing major delays and more congestion in other locations in its first week of operation.

The news comes as Dubai was named the most congested city in the Middle East, with an average commute of nearly two hours per day.

The 'Salik' toll - designed to reduce gridlock along Dubai's main Sheikh Zayed Road that links the city's business districts - caused lengthy delays around the Al Barsha area and on Maktoum Bridge yesterday, as drivers attempted to use alternative routes to avoid the new toll gates.

According to reports, commuters trying to cross Dubai Creek were stranded on Maktoum Bridge for up to two hours as traffic ground to a halt.

And major traffic jams were reported around The Greens, Arabian Ranches and Al Barsha residential areas as motorists attempted to bypass paypoints at Al Garhoud Bridge and Intersection Four of Sheikh Zayed Road.

"Traffic on Emirates Road between the Ranches roundabout and the next one was at a complete standstill," one commuter told ArabianBusiness.com.

"I also got caught in the Al Barsha flyover jam for almost two hours. My commute to work this morning was a nightmare and I don't even need to use the toll roads."

Another commuter said: "Those of us who go from the back road Al Barhsa-Al Khail now have to battle it out with huge trailers on the roundabouts who block the entire road all the way up to the Business Bay Exit. If you want to make it to the exit, you better stay behind the trailers or you're bound to miss the exit."

The toll system, the city's first major attempt at easing traffic in its congestion zones, kicked off on Sunday just a day after a study was released naming Dubai the most congested city in the Middle East.

The study by GulfTalent.com recruitment company said the growing number of cars in Dubai is overwhelming its transport system, with commuters spending nearly two hours in their cars per day.

According to the report, Dubai's average commuting time per day to and from work was one hour 45 minutes, beating Cairo at one hour 33 minutes.

And the 15-kilometre commute from neighbouring Sharjah takes an average of two hours and 44 minutes roundtrip despite two express highways.

However drivers have found that Salik has eased traffic for commuters from Sharjah to Dubai.

"The system will work, it just needs some time for people to get used to it," an anonymous RTA spokesperson was quoted as saying in Emirates Today.

"Motorists cannot judge the system in the first few hours, it needs at least five days," the spokesperson told the newspaper.

The Dubai Police force has been outspoken in its criticism the scheme, with Brigadier Mohammad Saif Al Zafein, Director of the General Department of Traffic, saying that Salik is likely to clog rather than ease traffic.

However, officials told ArabianBusiness.com that the force will no longer be commenting on the success - or otherwise - of the scheme. "Our commander said that we're not responsible for Salik, and we're not commenting on it," said one.

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