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29 March 2024

JLT traffic gridlock eases after office-goers got stuck for hours, residents unable to exit buildings

Published
By Bindu Suresh Rai

With the remaining schools opening its doors today to welcome children, Dubai faced  yet another traffic jam on Monday, with commuter reporting gridlock across the city.

The worse hit was  the Jumeirah Lake Towers community, with residents complaining they were unable to exit their buildings due to traffic, with on-going roadworks adding to the chaos this morning. But the traffic jam had begun to ease by noon.

The JLT traffic situation this morning took the hashtag to the top of the UAE Twitter trends, as frustrated commuters complained of being trapped in gridlock for nearly two hours.

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Dubai Police confirmed to Emirates 24|7 that a broken down car was the cause behind the congestion in the residential community.

JLT resident Aarti Joshi said: “Traffic in JLT is now an everyday affair. People are stuck for hours at a stretch just in an attempt to leave during the morning rush hour, or when they are returning home from work.”

She continued: “My husband, who works in Dubai Media City used to have a 10-minute commute from the moment he sat in his car, until he rang the doorbell. Today, he is lucky if he manages it under 45 minutes.”

Even at 10.30am, the gridlock continued with Timur K tweeting: “JLT is absolutely ridiculous. The entire area is a parking lot.”

Nigel Pereira added: “This isn’t your normal everyday rush-hour traffic.”

Jasmine wrote: “Moment of silence for those stuck in JLT traffic.”

Earlier in the morning, JLT members are reporting hour-long delays in simply exiting the community, with several residents venting their frustration on social media, while several have are opting to work from home today after waiting in their car park for nearly 45 minutes.

Amy W wrote: “Traffic at JLT not even remotely moving.”

Ryan D wrote: “Coming up to 45 minutes to exit JLT. Nice two-hour drive now to Abu Dhabi. JLT traffic backed up from SZR to back. One big circle car park.”

Ghadi Abou Zeid wrote: “JLT in a proper traffic gridlock this morning! And cars keep coming.”

Jyoti Kapadia said: “I informed my office I am working from home today after stranded in my building carpark for nearly 45 minutes. At least I can be more productive this way.”

Earlier this month, the JLT road works plan was unveiled, with the exit to the road parallel to Sheikh Zayed Road from Almas Tower Road closing.

Master developer Dubai Multi Commodity Center (DMCC) also announced the first entrance into JLT via the Al Khail First Road (previously known as the Western Parallel Road) leading to the temporary roundabout by Cluster G will be closed.

The work currently undertaken in JLT is the last stage of a Dh450 million project carried out by the Road and Transport Authority (RTA), aimed at providing improved accessibility to the JLT community and surrounding communities such as Discovery Gardens, the Gardens and Jumeirah Islands.