Traffic signals bring law and order to Skycourts community in Dubai

After two years of traffic chaos, traffic signals at the major intersection of Skycourt community have been activated.

Traffic from all directions merges at this intersection in Dubailand. Located just off Dubai-Al Ain Road, it functions as the gateway to the Skycourts community, while it is a transit point for those who live in neighbouring community The Villa.\

In each direction traffic comes and goes over multiple lanes, and between the lanes lie zebra crossings, accommodating brave pedestrians. Until now, traffic flow was a matter of self-regulation.

The intersection has taken its toll. When Emirates24|7 inquired about the situation in March 2012, residents reported that several accidents had taken place. (https://www.emirates247.com/news/emirates/rta-moves-to-make-skycourts-junction-safer-2012-03-19-1.449322)

“I have seen at least three accidents since I started living in Skycourts from the beginning of this year,” said R Kumar at the time. “People coming in from Al Ain Road and those going out are both in a great rush. Residents are mostly young and use excessive speed on this internal road.

“Though roads are clearly marked, people do not always follow the lanes. I have seen people driving the wrong way to get to the building,” he pointed out.

In one-and-a-half-year little did change. If anything was done it was insufficient to solve the situation, said residents who repeatedly asked this website to report on the situation again.

Road blockages were installed several times, much to the dismay of the residents. This summer, blockages entirely closed the roads in some directions.

"Some of the roads crossing this intersection have been closed. As a result, some drivers approaching the intersection take a shortcut by hopping onto the road in opposite direction, in order to continue on the road they could not reach," said R Kumar a couple of weeks ago.

"The road is dangerous and some people use shortcuts in the opposite direction, but I do not totally blame them. I blame the ones who put the barriers up there and closed the roads in an illogical manner," commented Iman Sheikh AL Zawr.

Another resident named Abdul Mannan Sheikh said: "My brother had an accident here because another driver was taking the wrong u-turn. It is really a dangerous intersection due to the absence of signal lights as well as street lights. I have seen many accidents."

After two years of living in the dark, traffic lights have come up and are running for the first time on Thursday afternoon. "The traffic signals are working," reported R. Kumar to this website.

Last weekend the streets were dug up and cable laying work was reported to be seen at the intersection, raising the hopes of the residents, who were clueless why the traffic light were there, but not functioning all this time.

The Road and Transportation Agency (RTA) was contacted with the same query, but no response was received by this website.

Although traffic lights are likely to bring an end to the self-regulating traffic mayhem at the intersection, there is room for improvement elsewhere in the community, points out R. Kumar.

At this point no speed limit or speed breakers have been introduced on the internal roads of the community, which poses a hazard especially considering the incoming traffic from Dubai-Al Ain Road, where a maximum speed of 140 kmph is permitted.

Furthermore, a pedestrian crossing in front of Thomsun supermarket is required, he said. The supermarket being the only local grocery store in the community, many residents –including children- cross the road here every day. In June this year a little girl was hit by a car while crossing the road, sparking the angry reaction of residents. (https://www.emirates247.com/news/emirates/small-girl-crossing-road-in-front-of-skycourts-hit-by-car-2013-06-05-1.509187)

Finally, access to the community is limited to the exit leading towards the intersection discussed. This is not enough, explained R. Kumar.

"If you are on Dubai-Al Ain road coming from Al Ain, there is no other option than to head to Sheikh Mohammad bin Zayed Road and take a U-turn. We would be helped if there was an entry into Dubailand from this road, and another one from Emirates Road," he said.

Currently more than 4,000 people are estimated to live in Skycourts and The Villa.
 

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