Time is definitely money. The cost of time wasted annually due to traffic congestions has dropped to Dh2.4bn in 2010 from Dh4.9bn in 2005.
This has been made possible with the help of projects and improvements carried out by the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), reports Khaleej Times.
Mattar Al Tayer, Chairman of the Board and Executive Director of RTA, told the daily: “RTA projects also contributed to boosting the competitiveness of Dubai, developing the economy, appreciating the value of lands and properties and improving the environment and safety levels among other positive effects. Road projects completed by the RTA in the past resulted in a 29 per cent increase in the total length of roads network, 195 per cent increase in the number of bridges constructed from 108 to 319 bridges, 57 per cent increase in the number of tunnels constructed, and an increase in the number of lanes crossing Dubai Creek from 19 lanes in 2005 to 48 lanes right now.”
Had the situation been left as it were, the cost of wasted resources would have jumped from about Dh8 billion in 2006 to more than Dh13 billion in 2010. Therefore, the total savings made in the cost of time and fuel wastage over the past five years is as high as Dh35.7 billion, added Al Tayer.
Traffic congestion in Dubai declined dramatically as it currently measures 1.36; which is a good rate compared to major global cities witnessing diverse economic activity as this index measures 1.43 in Chicago, 1.42 in San Francisco, and 1.37 in the San Diego, USA, revealed the daily.
Average speed on expressways in Dubai clocked 91.2 km/h, whereas the average speed on multi-lane main roads was 66.5 km/h, and the average speed on urban and internal roads amounted to 48.2 km/h. This indicator illustrates the high traffic efficiency of roads network in Dubai, explained Al Tayer.