Residents in Dibba Al Fujairah have repeated their plea to the authorities, urging them to speed up the construction of a new dual-carriageway and replace the Masafi-Dibba road, known as the 'Death Road', to reduce the increasing number of fatal accidents.
There has been a series of fatal accidents in the last few weeks. Several lives are lost every year on the road, a vital link used by thousands of residents working in the other emirates, as well as visitors. The Dibba-Masafi road, which has many dangerous turns, is the shortest link for those coming from Dubai and Sharjah.
Over the last five years, over 80 people have been killed in accidents on the road. A UAE national police officer's entire family was killed in 2000.
More than 37 accidents occurred last year, killing 20 nationals, aged between 20 and 30. More than 17 were injured.
Abdullah Masoud, a national from Dibba, urged the federal government to build a new dual carriageway to link Dibba with Masafi.
"I wonder why the authorities have not yet started building an alternative road. We are a rich country and we are building hundreds of highrise towers, bridges and other structures that we are proud of. The Ministry of Public Works and Housing is carrying out projects all over the country and this should not be a major task."
Rashid Mohammed Abdullah, a national who works in Dubai, said maintenance carried out on the current Dibba-Masafi road has not reduced accidents. "We have been promised many times that the Ministry of Public Works and Housing will do something about the road, but nothing has happened. People are still being killed. Only professional race car drivers can drive there without being involved in an accident. Driving at night is like trying to commit suicide because the road is not lit and has one carriageway."
Major Ghanem Ahmed Ghanem, Director of the Traffic and Licensing Department, said the accidents should prompt authorities to find a solution.
His call is repeated every time an accident occurs.
"Motorists must slow down, fasten seat belts, avoid overtaking and adhere to rules to prevent accidents, as the road has dangerous turns that surprise drivers."
Mattar Saleh Al Kaabi, Director of the Dibba Al Fujairah Municipality, also refreshed his call to the Ministry of Public Works and Housing to start constructing a road. "We believe that the ministry is going to build another road after completing a study on the geographical location of the road."
The 39-km Dibba-Masafi road was constructed in the 1970s. On certain stretches, motorists are unable to see vehicles coming from the opposite direction. Concrete barriers built by the ministry on some dangerous points have not curbed accidents. The accidents mostly occur when motorists try to overtake.
Gulf News
