DUBAI // Residents of Remraam community in Dubai have complained of “unacceptable” traffic congestion in the mornings, saying it takes them up to an hour to leave because the area has only a one-lane exit.
Lebanese Jad Salloum, 35, said he thinks the congestion was caused by the increased number of buildings and residents.
“There are now approximately 80 buildings with residents, and all these [people] are to use one exit and one lane,” he said.
“This is what’s resulting in congestion, and it’s happening in the morning, because people want to drop off their children to school. It’s taking up to 45-50 minutes to leave the community.”
Mr Salloum said his daughter is regularly late to school because of the problem. Residents received notice from developer Dubai Properties in November that the problem would be resolved by the end of that month, he said.
“They started working on it, and then stopped. It’s now been two months and there is still no solution,” he said. “Some people are parking outside the community to avoid the whole thing.”
Anna Onuralp, 31, from Belarus, said the problem started when the extension to Hessa Street was opened, resulting in more congestion.
“It’s taking residents more than 40 minutes just to leave the community. Both parts of the Remraam community [Al Thamam and Al Ramth] have to use the same one-lane exit, which is the biggest problem.”
She said the congestion has become a safety issue, as some residents overtake other vehicles using the opposite lane and make illegal U-turns.
For Iraqi Haider Jawad, 35, the heavy congestion has become a great inconvenience for him and his five-year-old son.
“I drop my kid to his school in Barsha, which starts at 7.45. Despite this, I leave my place at 6.40am to beat the traffic,” he said.
“I drop him off at 7am because we reach early, and sometimes it’s too cold for him, so we stay in the car until sunrise.
“I live in Dubai and the trip should take a maximum of 15 minutes, and yet it feels like I live in Sharjah when I have to leave the house so early.”
Dubai Properties said that finding a permanent and effective solution for the congestion was a high-priority project. Approvals and permits for the road expansion plan and work have been completed.
“We acknowledge the disruption in the community and would like all residents to know that [Dubai Properties] also wants the situation to improve immediately,” a spokesman said.
“At the same time, we must ensure that all guidelines of changing the community infrastructure plan are strictly followed and met, for the long-term benefit of residents.
“This may have caused delays, but we are taking all necessary measures to speed up this process.”
dmoukhallati@thenational.ae