Officials from Sharjah Municipality are saying they have no plans to impose a toll on motorists driving into the emirate.
The officials said they would not impose any toll, despite the fact they are carrying out massive road projects, including the expansion of existing roads as well as building new roads, bridges, intersections and tunnels at a cost of more than Dh2.5 billion.
An official from the municipality said the civic body would not react to any unilateral decision from Dubai to impose a toll.
"If Dubai goes ahead with its plan, they should have a very good reason for the move, which is the first of its kind in the region. This move will, in fact, have a good impact on the economy of Sharjah since it will encourage people to carry out their business and shopping within the emirate and cut down on trips to Dubai," the official said.
He said those who live in Sharjah but work in Dubai will probably not visit Dubai to shop because of the proposed toll. The official said many people work in Dubai and live in Sharjah because they cannot afford rents in Dubai.
"When people come back from Dubai, they face traffic congestion and we think the toll is not the solution," he said.
Authorities in Sharjah said Dubai should have consulted with them and conducted a traffic impact study on roads in Sharjah, because installing a Dubai toll means Sharjah roads and bridges will be blocked because of the proposed gates.
"To ensure a smooth traffic flow, we have invested Dh2.5 billion on various road projects, which will be ready this year and we do not want others to spoil our efforts with a unilateral decision," another official said.
"Dubai and Sharjah are one traffic unit and should be dealt with in this way, the unilateral decision on traffic control will add to traffic congestion."
The Sharjah Town Road Network, one of the major road projects in the emirate, is being built on Emirates Road from the Dubai-Sharjah border to the Sharjah-Ajman border. The 14.4-km stretch of highway will cost Dh163.7 million.
Construction work on the National Paint Roundabout, which will be turned into an interchange, has already started.
Bridges, flyovers, widening of roads, a freeway connecting the centre of the city with Emirates Road and the Sharjah Ring Road are all part of the massive projects that will be completed in phases over the next few years.
Flyovers are being constructed at the National Paint Roundabout and the Al Thiqah Club Roundabout.
A new full cloverleaf intersection will replace the existing bridge at intersection three on the Sharjah-Dhaid Road and a full cloverleaf intersection will be constructed at the Al Wasit Road next to the Wasit Power Station.
Plan to ease traffic flow on the Al Ittihad Road are also under way. A cloverleaf intersection is being built at the Al Khan Roundabout. Another semi-cloverleaf intersection will be built at Al Wahda Street replacing the King Faisal Roundabout and the existing bridge. Al Tawuun Road has already been upgraded from two lanes on each side to three lanes.
A 30-km long Sharjah Ring Road, which will encircle Sharjah city, will be another landmark project to ease traffic flow in the emirate. Starting from the Dubai-Sharjah border on Emirates Road, the Ring Road will continue towards the Ajman border.
It will then turn northwest parallel to the Sharjah-Ajman border and connect with the existing Sharjah to Ras Al Khaimah Road adjacent to the Wasit Power Station. In the next phase, the road will continue from the Wasit station to Al Arouba Street, which will be part of the Ring Road. Al Arouba Street will be upgraded and existing roundabouts and bridges removed.
The Ring Road will then extend to the Al Khan Road and will cross Al Khan Lagoon and Al Majaz Lagoon and then turn towards the Sahara Centre on the Dubai-Sharjah borders.
It will connect with the Al Nahda interchange and then continue along the Al Nahda Link Road and along the Sharjah-Dubai border back to the Emirates Road near Industrial Area 15, completing a full circle around the city.
Gulf News
