New alternative roads to open prior to Salik, RTA assures on the system's importance in reducing traffic

Salik - the new toll system - will begin as planned in July 2007, with initial tolling points at Al Garhoud Bridge and along Sheikh Zayed Road near the Mall of the Emirates, alongside with the opening of Dubai Al Abir crossing and the floating bridge, which connects Al Ittihad Road with Al Riyadh Street in Bur Dubai; and is expected to reduce the traffic at Al Maktoum Bridge.

"All lanes on Business Bay Bridge that reach to 13 lanes and the extension of the Emirates Road exits from 3 to 6 exits will be opened alongside with salik. The Floating Bridge alone is one of the major alternative roads planned to reduce the strain on Dubai's road network and its users," Eng. Maitha said. "The Floating Bridge has the capacity to absorb 6,000 cars during peak times and will reduce the traffic on Al Maktoum Bridge by 37 per cent." The RTA, she added, will double the number of lanes to and from Dubai Creek to 38 exits this year, and will increase that number to 45 in 2008.

The RTA statement follows the launch of Salik's public awareness campaign aimed at motorists, to explain how to register for the service and make use of the new initiative and other information as the selling points where the cards are available, how to buy it and how to recharge the credit.

Eng. Bin Adai added that the public awareness campaign is aimed at motorists and will explain how to register for the service and make use of the new initiative and other information as the selling points where the cards are available, how to buy it and how to recharge the credit ."Dubai's toll system will be on par with international standards and is necessary as a result of heavy demand on the road infrastructure," she said.

"Salik is one of several projects that the RTA is currently implementing to provide world-class roads and transport infrastructure in Dubai. The new service, which will be launched in July 2007, will further strengthen RTA's commitment to implement cutting-edge traffic management solutions that will contribute to the use of alternative routes, and decrease pollution levels by reducing the number of cars on the roads and driving time."

Engineer Maitha said.

According to recent RTA studies, the Salik service will help reduce traffic by 25 per cent on the tolled roads. Motorists using the system do not have to pay the toll manually - the fee will be deducted electronically from windshield-mounted tags.

The agency has also launched its bilingual website, www.salik.ae, and a trilingual Salik Call Center to answer public queries about Dubai's forthcoming toll system. The 800-SALIK (72545) call center will provide all necessary information related to the new system in Arabic, English and Urdu, as part of the RTA's thrust to communicate with the public and spread awareness of the new service.

The Salik.ae website is primarily an educational tool, to provide members of the public with a thorough understanding of the system, its operation and its benefits. The site will eventually explain how to register for the service, where to buy the sensor cards and recharge credit, and will also explain the RTA's long-term goals for this service.