The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) of Dubai has declared the November 2018 commencement of construction on two additional Salik toll gates that will be situated along significant thoroughfares.
Al Safa South on Sheikh Zayed Road and the Business Bay Crossing on Al Khail Road will house the newly constructed toll gates, respectively. Notably, a motorist will incur a single toll if they traverse both the northern and southern Al Safa Gates within a span of one hour.
The toll fee for each passage through a Salik toll gate is AED 4. The primary objective behind the introduction of these toll gates is to alleviate congestion on the roads, providing a smoother and more efficient route for car travelers. Mattar Al Tayer, the Director-General and Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of the RTA, emphasized that toll gates are integral to transportation policies aimed at supporting road infrastructure and public transport projects. These policies intend to distribute traffic across the entire road network, ensuring optimal utilization.
Al Tayer emphasized that the implementation of traffic toll policies additionally promotes the adoption of soft mobility alternatives, including mass transport options like the metro, buses, and marine transport. It is expected that the deployment of Salik will substantially decrease travel durations on Sheikh Zayed Road. For instance, it is anticipated that the Business Bay Crossing Gate will reduce Al Khail Road and Al Rebat Street traffic by 15% and 16%, respectively.
It is anticipated that the Al Safa South Gate will reduce by 15% the volume of vehicles making a right turn from Sheikh Zayed Road to Al Meydan Street. Additionally, it is anticipated that traffic congestion on Sheikh Zayed Road from Al Meydan and Al Safa Streets will be reduced by 42%. In addition, the objective is to achieve a 4% reduction in traffic volume on Sheikh Zayed Road connecting Financial Centre and Latifa Bint Hamdan Streets, while possibleizing a 4% improvement in the utilization of First Al Khail and Al Asayel Roads.
Salik, Dubai's road toll collection system, was implemented in 2007, and the addition of these new toll gates reflects the ongoing efforts to manage traffic and enhance transportation infrastructure in the city.
