By Jay B. Hilotin, Chief Reporter XPRESS, www.gulfnews.com
Dubai: New Dubai residents’ frustrations over the seemingly endless construction work cutting through their posh communities are set to end by September, a senior Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) official said.
Engr Maitha Obaid Bin Udai, CEO of Traffic and Roads Agency, RTA, said: “The works in progress on East and West Parallel Roads surrounding The Springs, Lakes, Meadows and Tecom will be completed by September 2011.”
Civil works for the project, which runs parallel to Shaikh Zayed Road and cuts through these communities, had given the up-market communities a bad reputation. Residents complained of roadblocks and tailbacks and detours that never seemed to end.
Besides the four developments mentioned, the parallel roads pass through other exclusive communities like Emirates Hills, Jebel Ali Race Course, Al Barsha, Jumeirah Islands and Jumeirah Park. The new road is expected to ease traffic flow in the upscale areas and also provide an alternative to Shaikh Zayed Road.
“Two intersections on Hessa Road will be completed by September 2011, which will ease traffic jams,” Engr Maitha said.
Sandra, a Swiss resident of Springs 2, said: “We’ve been here for three years and I’ve seen nothing but road construction work. It was beautiful when we moved in … all green with trees. Now, they ripped it all up. What for? It does not make sense to me.”
Jennifer, a British mother of two and also a Springs resident, said: “It’s frustrating and the road work seems to be taking longer than it should. We’ve endured almost three years of detours, inconvenience and noise.” Poona, a Greens residents for two years, said: “It’s getting there… the road developments. But it’s taking too long.”
Mette, a Danish mother of one who lives in Jumeirah Islands, said: “For the last one year I’ve been here, nothing seems to be happening to the roads. But now we can see, it’s almost completed. We can’t wait for it to finish.”
Raja, an Indian driver for a family in Jumeirah Islands, said: “Once completed [road works], my life will be much easier.”
