Dubai’s RTA to reopen Dubai Marina intersection adjacent to tram

Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has announced that it will reopen the left and U-turn at one of the intersections in Dubai Marina in early September.

The roads to be opened are located at the intersection of Al Sufouh-Al Gharbi Streets, along the track of the Dubai Tram.

The move follows the completion of a plan aimed at achieving zero accidents in the area and ensuring that road users had been accustomed to the existence and movement of the tram, the RTA said in a statement.

“We had set up a committee of RTA’s specialists where an international consultant had been appointed to draw up a comprehensive plan to realise the Tram/Roads Safety Strategy,” said Maitha bin Adai, CEO of RTA’s Traffic & Roads Agency.

The five-year-plan covers programmes, procedures and initiatives to achieve the ‘zero-accident’ level in the operations of the Dubai Tram by 2020.

It comprises several aspects relating to engineering matters, traffic movement, operation of light signals, awareness campaigns, training, traffic enforcement measures, and coordination of technical and administrative procedures with partners.

“Under the plan, several preventive measures have been set to eliminate potential accidents between the Tram and vehicles due to turns at the intersection of Al Marsa-Al Gharbi Streets,” Bin Adai said.

“We have introduced a feature in the traffic light signaling system whereby all light signals will turn red once the tram approaches the junction.

“We have installed surveillance cameras to monitor vehicles jumping the red signals in coordination with the General Department of Traffic at the Dubai Police.

“We have also launched awareness campaigns in this regard and a Memorandum of Understanding signed with the Dubai Police to ensure the safe use of these turns.

“The Dubai Tram boasts of sophisticated technologies to alert over-speeding tram drivers, and automatically reduce the speed in case of no response from the driver. There is a code of conduct applicable to tram drivers committing multiple offences posing risks to road users,” she added.

One of the key factors behind the closure of the turns was to allow motorists to acquaint themselves with the movement of the tram.

“All road users are required to abide by traffic and driving rules and pay attention to traffic signals to avoid serious accidents. RTA is revamping its plans and strategies for roads in the emirate in keeping with the needs of road users,” she said.

The RTA previously reopened the left and U-turns at the intersection of Al Sayora-Al Sufouh Streets at the JBR in March and the turns at the intersections of Al Marsa-Al Sayora Streets, Al Marsa-Al Sufouh Streets, and Al Marsa-Al Sharta Streets in June.