End in sight for JVC road woes? New traffic lights, bus routes

Residents of Jumeirah Village Circle (JVC) will be glad to note that master developer Nakheel has confirmed new traffic signals will be installed in the community over the next year.

Nakheel has stated 28 sets of traffic lights will be installed at various locations within the community.

The developer has also confirmed that modification works to existing roads and utilities are also in the pipeline, with a tender floated for the same.

Meanwhile, Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has separately confirmed that a bus route will be launched connecting the residential community with Mall of the Emirates and Al Barsha.

The RTA online bus schedule has already listed the upcoming service, cited as route J01, which will run between the mall and JVC.

RTA has confirmed a bus route will be launched connecting the residential community with Mall of the Emirates and Al Barsha. (Pic: JVC Community Page, Facebook)

Even as no start date has been confirmed by the RTA as yet, a Facebook community group for JVC has said the route is expected to be operational from July 20.

In the past, community members have complained the infrastructure at JVC had not caught up with the expansion with lack of road signage, traffic lights, stop signs and speed breakers. Residents take taxis due to a lack of bus connectivity in the area.

However, developer Nakheel has stated plans are underway with a “population increase” in the community prompting it to move ahead with its improvement plans.

“Jumeirah Village Circle is one of Nakheel’s fastest-growing communities. We continue to enhance and improve the community with new facilities and services, including road improvements, in response to the increasing population at the community,” a Nakheel spokesperson told 'Emirates24|7'.

“We aim to install around 28 sets of traffic signals over the next year,” the spokesperson added.

Community bus service

Meanwhile, a spokesperson from the RTA has also revealed more details on the planned bus service that will link JVC with the city’s “major attractions”.

In an emailed statement, the RTA said: “We are planning to launch a community bus service in Jumeirah Village Circle, linking it to major attractions within and outside the community.

“This route will be a circular route connecting JVC with Al Barsha 1 and Mall of Emirates.”

A query on the scheduled start of the service is still awaited from the RTA, but the government authority further stated the route has been launched “to ensure that the majority of people in Dubai can access the main social and economic activity in their community even if they don’t have a car.”

The RTA has also stated it is closely monitoring growth in Dubai’s communities through means of survey, customer feedback and its relationship with the developer, with new communities being monitored “notably in Dubailand,” it added.

Residents relieved

By end-2013, Dubai Police had revealed five road accidents had occurred within the community, with one fatality, while 11 accidents had occurred in JVC in 2012.

While residents appeared to be relieved by the development, many were still appealing for better signage and road signs for the area.

Hashmad Sultani posted “still needs to bring more bumps"; Mohammad F Jouda echoed the sentiment, adding: “Need more bumps between communities, especially near the parks".

While Radina Stefanova appealed for some “Stop signs”, Dm Brkn stated: “It’s really confusing on some junctions.”

Separately, news of the new bus service has also been welcomed by residents, with the Facebook group posting: “The buses are coming. Scheduled to start from July 20 from JVC to MoE. Every 20-25 minutes.”

Surrounded by Sheikh Mohammad bin Zayed Road, Al Khail Road and Hessa Street, the JVC community is also to undergo further expansion with the construction of a new community mall.

The Circle Mall

In an earlier statement, Nakheel stated: “We are building a one million sqft mall – called The Circle Mall – at JVC, as part of our retail expansion strategy.

“The mall will contain shops, restaurants, cinemas etc, and will complement another larger mall at Jumeirah Village Triangle on the other side of Al Khail Road.”

The expected completion date in 2017.

Further, 200 building designs from third party developers have been approved, which will add to the 81 buildings completed by third party developers.

Nakheel itself has constructed and handed over 615 villas at JVC, with delivery of 90 new villas commencing in March this year.

The developer also stated it is bringing 28 landscaped parks to JVC, with two parks already completed, with landscaping and design work underway on the rest.

The RTA stated a market study in partnership with JVC stakeholders has demonstrated around 14,000 people currently living in the community, with a projected population of more than 250,000 people at completion.

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