Nakheel opens temporary road to ease traffic in Discovery Gardens

Nakheel has opened  a temporary road to ease the traffic in Discovery Gardens and Gardens developments.

“Today’s traffic congestion at Discovery Gardens is the result of a road closure by the Road and Transport Authority (RTA) for safety reasons.  We continue to liaise with the RTA, impressing upon them the urgent need to address traffic congestion in the area,” a company spokesperson told Emirates 24/7.

To help ease the traffic, the spokesperson said that it has opened a temporary route between Discovery Gardens, Al Furjan and the E77 (Al Yalayis Road), which connects Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road and Sheikh Zayed Road.

Earlier report

UPDATE at 11am Thursday: Residents of Discovery Gardens are now reporting of being trapped in the morning gridlock for over three hours, with flooding from the rain adding to the traffic mayhem.
   
Leena H tweeted: “Three hours and no sign of getting out. This is absolutely horrendous traffic!”
   
Amita Shinaj said: “Two hours and 45 minutes, still in the traffic Discovery Gardens.”
   
Dev joked: “Can we have air-taxis? Since Discovery Gardens traffic is immovable?”
   
Scott WS Low wrote: “45 minutes later, barely got from Street 5 to Street 4 in Discovery Gardens.”
   
ICD described the chaos in the community, saying: “Mayhem: Traffic signals ignored. Drivers cutting into each other’s right of way. People walking.”
   
The resident, who stated he’s been trapped for over two hours in the morning gridlock, said: “Out here in Discovery Gardens for two hours in traffic and we barely covered one km.”
   
Nadir Anjum stated: “People have been stuck at the roundabout for more than an hour.”

Even at 10am, about three school buses and two school vans were still trapped in the traffic jam since early morning in Discovery Gardens. DG resident Roxanne MB tweets a picture to Emirates 24|7 from her balcony. It is still unclear whether the buses have made it out. (Please scroll down)

Emirates 24|7 reader Roxanne MB tweeted this image from her balcony at DG

Parents have complained school buses are not reaching schools on time as they get are stuck for over 30 to 45 minutes in the Gardens and Discovery Gardens gridlock every day.

Rains have worsened the traffic situation today (Thursday) in these two communities where occupancy is now believed to over 90 per cent.

Rania S, a mother of two, says: “The school buses that used to come at 6.15 am to pick my kids now reach our stop at 6.30am. So we wait for the bus for at least 15 minutes. Then my kids are stuck in the Discovery Garden traffic for another 40 to 50 minutes. My kids are now spending more than an hour in the bus.”

3-lane traffic on internal roads in Discovery Gardens. Image contributed by Parag Deulgaonkar

Sushma Singh, mother of one child, says: “The situation has become horrible. Generally, buses are coming late and then are caught in the outbound traffic. I hope and wish authorities need to do something to solve this traffic issue.”

School bus drivers, who are well trained, do lose their patience some times. This reporter saw a school bus blocking the incoming lane just to get on to the main road.

Image tweeted at 8.15am @ Discovery Gardens by Rawan 

Amidst the traffic chaos and flooding due to the rains at Discovery Gardens, residents have reported being stuck in jams lasting nearly two hours.

Meg Bernardo tweeted: “Record one hour and 40 minutes to get out of Discovery Gardens from street 2.”
   
Sanjay N Lulla said: “Everyday traffic congestion in Discovery Gardens stuck in same place for 45 minutes.”
   
Jessie Sophia wrote: “Definitely moving out when my rent’s up in a few months! I can’t handle this ridiculous traffic at Discovery Gardens any more.”

Image tweeted by Emirates 24|7 Reader Muskkey

Muskkey asked: “Am I on the beach? No! This is Discovery Gardens’ favourite problem. We don’t know why it’s not rectified by Nakheel.”
   
Sneha Ashar joked: “Ladies, if you live in Discovery Gardens, here’s a tip - carry the high heels in the bag. Let’s wear trainers to work!”
   
Dubai Police, meanwhile, tweeted in response to pleas from commuters to help with the two-hour long morning jam, saying: “We have informed the concerned department and will rectify the problem shortly.”
   
In response to residents’ pleas, the Roads and Transport Authority tweeted: “Discovery Gardens and the Gardens are out of the RTA’s jurisdiction and they are related to Nakheel real estate. Thank you.”
   
Last week, Engineer Hussain Ali Al Banna, Director, Traffic Department, RTA confirmed new road barriers had been placed in the community to thwart illegal crossings.
     
In a statement to Emirates 24|7, he explained: “In relation to the Discovery Gardens road alterations, road barriers have been placed to prevent illegal crossover of vehicles from Discovery Gardens to Sheikh Zayed Road.
     
“This has been done with respect to safety and to prevent accidents.”

Image tweeted by Anindita Chatterjee
     
He further stated: “Customers who were using this route now have to take a U-turn from the junction at Discovery Gardens that has increased traffic congestion.”
   
Talking about the long-term plans to rid the daily frustration faced by morning commuters, he explained: “In relation to the Discovery Gardens traffic congestion, illegal access from Discovery Gardens to Sheikh Zayed Road has been closed by installing steel guard ways to improve the safety in the area and to prevent accidents."

Reconfirming an earlier statement that Emirates 24|7 reported in August 2013 that the RTA was working on a new exit to Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road (formerly Emirates Road) from Discovery Gardens and Gardens, he added: "To ease the on going traffic congestion alternative routes are under construction which includes two exits: one from Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road and the other through interchange 5.5 from Sheikh Zayed Road.
     
“Please note that the roads inside Discovery Gardens are managed and controlled by Nakheel Properties.”

Image contributed by Emirates 24|7 Reader Rawan Hamed

Images contributed by Emirates 24|7 Reader Mukundan Paravasthu

Images contributed by Emirates 24|7 Reader Mukundan Paravasthu

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