6.26 PM Thursday, 28 March 2024
  • City Fajr Shuruq Duhr Asr Magrib Isha
  • Dubai 04:57 06:11 12:27 15:53 18:37 19:51
28 March 2024

No exit from JLT for Jumeirah Park residents

Published
By Parag Deulgaonkar

A three-minute drive to their homes from Jumeirah Lakes Towers (JLT) has become a nightmarish commute for residents of the Jumeirah Park master community.

Jumeirah Park residents have to now drive all the way to Dubai Marina, or take the Meadows exit to head home from JLT.

Using the former route takes over 15 minutes, while the latter takes at least 25 minutes during rush hour.

“It used to take just three minutes to reach my home in Jumeirah Park from my office in JLT, but now I have to drive all the way to Marina and return to take the exit to my home,” says Nita M, who has been living in Jumeirah Park for the past one year.

“There was a temporary roundabout before that gave us the option of entering and exiting our community at ease, but now that been has been removed.


Jumeirah Park and Jumeirah Island as seen from the Almas Tower in JLT. (Parag Deulgaonkar)

“The new road network, under construction, either takes us to Sheikh Zayed Road, or to the road parallel to JLT Metro station, which again redirects us to the Marina route.”

Nita says: “We are adding traffic to the already congested Marina and Meadows roads.”

Paul R, another resident, echoes the same view.

“The access from JLT to Jumeirah Park has been traffic- ridden for many months and the closure of the mini roundabout slip road has now made it untenable.

“Having to deviate across Sheikh Zayed Road to the Marina and back also increases traffic along the Marina stretch of road.”

Kate Tavener adds, “We purchased a property in this area with one of the key factors being ease of access to JLT Metro station and shops.

“Now, we cannot get to our house in Jumeirah Park from JLT without driving either all the way through the Marina, or all the way through the Meadows,” she rues.

Residents say the responsible parties need to provide a sensible access point that would benefit Jumeirah Park community and other neighbouring communities such as Jumeirah Islands, who also face the same situation.

They suggest in unison that building a roundabout or a setting up traffic lights under the flyover, under construction, to provide access to Jumeirah Park and Jumeirah Islands.

 

Nakheel’s territory

The residents have raised the issue with Roads and Transport Authority, who in their emailed response, said: “Kindly be informed that the mentioned location is under Nakheel real estate, unfortunately it is out of the RTA’s jurisdiction.”

Emirates 24|7 had not received a Nakheel response till the time of publishing of the article. Nakheel is the master developer of the Jumeirah Park, spread over 350 hectares and containing over 2,000 villas.