Salik opens roads for some, takes toll on others

While some are claiming smooth sailing on the roads following the opening of two new toll gates this morning, it remains to be seen what effect this will have on other arterial routes.

The two new Salik gates opened at Ittihad Road in Al Mamzar and the Airport Tunnel today, amidst fears it would do little to ease congestion and more to hurt the bank account - and the reaction on social media has been mixed.

Mohamad Amin Nassif tweeted this morning to congratulate the RTA on the move: “ Hats off @RTA_Dubai for the new Salik, this is the first time from 6 years I went through Ittihad rd in morning time.”

Meanwhile, Nabaa Al-Dabbagh was not so pleased: “Salik toll gates activated today.. Hello crazy traffic.

Rohit Guptatweeted: “Toll gates make ur life easier across the world... except dubai!!!! it was a horror!!!”

The RTA installed the gates to ease traffic on the Sharjah-Dubai highway, where the usual 30 minute journey to Sharjah can turn into several hours during peak time.

Mohammed bin Zayed was packed in the morning with many motorists choosing to bypass the toll roads where motorists are charged Dh4 every time they cross the gates.

Traffic on smaller roads in Sharjah leading into Dubai also crawled in the morning during rush hour.

Dubai has two toll gates on Shaikh Zayed — in Al Barsha, and Al Safa. The other two are on Al Maktoum Bridge and Al Garhoud Bridge.

The RTA says “exhaustive traffic and field studies of the first and second phases” have apparently proven that these existing Salik gates have succeeded in slashing the trip time on Shaikh Zayed Road by as much as 44 per cent.

sarah@khaleejtimes.com