Recently, the Dubai RTA has proposed the establishment of new Salik tolls located on the major roads of the city, which are to be opened in November 2024. They are to be constructed at the Business Bay Crossing on Al Khail Road and Al Safa South on Sheikh Zayed Road to better manage traffic and avoid areas with much traffic congestion.
Users of Business Bay Crossing on Al Khail Road and the Al Safa South toll gate between Al Meydan and Umm Al Sheif Streets on Sheikh Zayed Road connecting to Business Bay will be charged the standard toll fee of Dhs 4. However, there is a special facility where, if a driver uses both Safa gates north and Safa gates south within an hour, then they will only be charged a single toll fee, the same as Al Mamzar gates at the moment.
Introduction of these new toll gates is part of the detailed plan for maintaining and controlling traffic flow in the network of roads in Dubai. Mattar Al Tayer whilst giving details said the new toll gates would help reduce congestion on the main arteries of the emirates and also encourage uptake of the integrated transport system of the RTA’s metroization programme, buses and marine transport.
It is expected that after completion of the Business Bay Crossing gate, the traffic flow in Al Khail Road would be cut down by 15% and in Al Rebat Street by 16%. Al Safa South gate is projected to cut traffic turning from Sheikh Zayed Road to Al Meydan Street by 15 percent and also lessen traffic impact on Sheikh Zayed Road between Financial Centre and Latifa Bint Hamdan Streets by 4 percent.
Salik which was implemented in 2007 as a toll system in Dubai has been of great importance in controlling traffic in the city. These two gates brings the total number of Salik toll gates in Dubai to ten expected to improve usage of the roads and less traffic jam.
All the motorists should expect the new toll gates and move around looking for other routes they can use, or even adopt the use of public transport.
