Jumeirah Village road works drive residents around town

A road closure that has now been in place for more than five months is frustrating residents in Jumeirah Village Triangle (JVT), who are missing a vital link to their community. There were promises of a new opening by last year-end.

On August 16, 2014 master developer Nakheel closed the road linking JVT to Jumeirah Park, citing construction work on an alternative road between the communities as the reason for closure.

“In an effort to improve the community’s infrastructure, please be informed that the works to construct the permanent road link between Jumeirah Village Triangle and Jumeirah Park Access will start very soon. Therefore, the current road will be temporarily closed from the 16th of August, 2014 for an estimated period of 3-4 months,” a statement posted on the community forum read.

However, by end-2014 the road was still closed and a new road was not in sight. When a concerned resident contacted Nakheel to inquire about the temporary, as well as permanent alternative to the road closure, a community manager representing Nakheel responded the delay was due to a delay in obtaining some NOCs from Dewa, and works were expected to be completed in four to six weeks.  The representative assured that Nakheel was working on a permanent solution in parallel with the temporary solution.

As residents pointed out, the road closure came as a thorn in the eye as it coincided with the opening of a new community center in Jumeirah Park.  In anticipation of the yet-to-be constructed JVT mall, residents were eager to visit the newly opened nearby shopping center.

However, it is not only the Jumeirah Park community that has become less accessible for the JVT residents. Access to JVT itself has become troublesome when coming anywhere from the south of the emirate, or Abu Dhabi, commuters point out.

“I am currently taking Hessa Street instead of going through Emirates Hills. This is a hassle especially when its crowded,” said Rasha Khayat.

Others describe a route covering parts of Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road or Emirates Road, instead of the previous internal access road to enter their community, a drive which has added up in travel time significantly.

Nakheel has not yet responded to queries from Emirates24|7 about road closure.

Community in the making

Jumeirah Village Triangle is cornered between Al Hessa Street and SMBZ Road, just behind Emirates Hills, Jumeirah Park and Jumeriah Lakes Towers. Residents were attracted to the area because of its accessibility and vicinity to Dubai major, while being away from the bustling of the city to enjoy the peace and quietness. “The peacefulness, away from high-rise, built-up, overcrowded and densely populated apartment blocks,” cited Mike Watt as a reason to move and stay in JVT.

“Well- sized houses, big gardens, away from the hustle and bustle of city living and well-located,” summed up Alia Ayoubi.

“Villas have one the largest garden plots I believe, which is the main attraction. There is ample room either for a lawn, soccer pitch, pool, dog sanctuary or a mini golf course,” said Harvey Ellis.

However, many of the promises that were made when residents flocked to the community in the making were not kept, with more residents growing frustrated.  A lack of road signage is one of the major frustrations, explain the residents.

“Road signs are extremely difficult to find anywhere in JVT. This poses not only a challenge to residents trying to find other districts but also to taxis, delivery drivers and, more importantly, the emergency services,” said Mike Watt.

“The possibility of having to call an ambulance and them not being able to find us has often crossed my mind. It is seriously unsafe to have no street signs,” said Andrea Shirley.

According to Rob Keddie, frustrations can be summed as road closures, a lack of road signage and a lack of gated security in the community.  “The community was going to be fenced and gated. The fencing started some months back and promptly stopped; in some places it even crosses roads and junctions, in others there are posts but no wire,” he described.

“The lack of security gates has led to villas being broken into,” knows Miranda Smith.

Although many of the residents agree that the community is a great place to live, they wish for some of the promises to be delivered. “The master project with parks, lake, river, fountains, schools etc. sold me, but unfortunately most of these promises still need to be delivered. JVT has great potential but Nakheel need to step-up and finish it,” commented Karol Sereday, echoing the sentiment of most of the residents.

In November last year Nakheel posted a timeline of its most immediate projects on the community forum. Promised was the instalment of way-finding signage within 2-3 months, security gatehouses within 6-8 weeks after RTA approval, landscaping rectifications within 2-3 months, among others projects.

This website had not received a comment from Nakheel on the issues mentioned at the time of publication.
 

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