Accident black-spot still a worry for Sharjah residents

Residents of Al Dhaid have voiced their dismay at the lack of progress on promised construction work to divert heavy trucks and traffic away from an accident black-spot where three children from the same family were killed a year ago.

SHARJAH // There has been no progress on work at an accident black spot where three siblings were killed, despite promises being made, residents said.

The youngsters aged 6, 13 and 14, from an Arab country, died when a lorry drove through a red light and smashed into the family's car in March last year. Their mother, 37, and two other siblings, aged 8 and 3, suffered severe injuries.

People living in Al Dhaid say the Sharjah Roads and Transport Authority had told the emirate’s consultative council that a bridge would be built as an underpass for lorries to keep them away from the junction, which connects the city centre to Weshah and Kalba Road.

Signals were installed to ease traffic problems in the meantime but building work on the bridge, which was scheduled to be finished at the end of last year, is yet to start.

“We still don’t see any progress in building the bridge, or finding another solution to this junction,” said Dr Khalifah Dalmouk, who represents Al Dhaid at the Sharjah Consultative Council.

“The traffic lights and maintenance they did on the junction didn’t help. Accidents still happen, and now the traffic lights are causing significant delays and traffic jams to motorists.”

Emirati Ahmad Al Tunaiji passes through the junction to reach his home in Weshah each day.

“It is a nightmare. The traffic lights cause delays and long tailbacks, especially in the evening,” said Mr Al Tunaiji, a government employee. “Some motorists jump the red light which put us at risk every time we pass through.

“The work which was carried out last year is still not enough and trucks are still giving us headaches and worries.”

Mohammed bin Huwaiden, head of Al Dhaid Municipal Council, said he did not know the status of the bridge plan but construction of a new road that would remove lorries from the city centre was in the works.

“I know for a fact that there is a new road that will be used by lorries instead of the current road which passes through the junction,” Mr bin Huwaiden said.

“The trucks will be rerouted to the new road, which connects to Weshah area roundabout, and will ease the traffic from the old location.”

But he said that a timeframe for completing the road was unknown.

Meanwhile, Dr Dalmouk said more infrastructure was needed for the central region.

“We need more progress in infrastructure development in Al Dhaid,” he said. “We asked Sharjah RTA for pedestrian bridges, flyover bridges to ease the flow of traffic and more road work.

“We are yet to hear any definitive answers or see tangible work being done in Al Dhaid.”

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