Discovery Gardens gridlock: commuters report hour-long delays

Frustrated Discovery Gardens residents have been waiting in traffic for more than an hour-and-a-half this morning with a gridlock that one commuter has described extending nearly 3kms due to certain exits being blocked.
 
While no accident has been reported in the community, eye witnesses are reporting people now exiting buses and walking towards the exits.
 
Meanwhile, another tweeted an image of the traffic jam extended into the open parking lots and the underground garages.
 
Karim Bawani said: “The traffic in Discovery is a nightmare today. Please send someone, do something. What if there is an emergency?”
 
Another resident Dev said: “Discovery Gardens has a traffic jam and both exits blocked. Cars backed up 3km!”
 
Several frustrated commuters have also tweeted about the conditions to  the Roads and Transport Authority all morning, however, they have been informed via the agency’s official Twitter account to route those queries to developer Nakheel.
 
Roopesh Babu tweeted: “All exit from Gardens, Discovery Gardens blocked; traffic standstill for 30 minutes now.”
 
Fadi Halwani said: “Poor traffic today which no one is taking responsibility to resolve at all.”
 
When further quizzed by us, he said: “According to the RTA we should be contacting Nakheel for any issues regarding traffic in the area they aren’t responsible.”
 
Dev faced a similar response when he wrote to the RTA asking: “Any idea about the 3km traffic jam at Discovery Gardens since 8am? Cars hardly moving.”
 
RTA replied: “Make sure to contact Nakheel for issues related to Gardens area. Thank you for contacting RTA.”
 
Meanwhile, several have now reported to walking.
 
IS Trimisiyu responded to our questions, saying: “Discovery Gardens traffic is just choking today. Moving 100meters in one hour! People getting off the bus to walk today.”
 
Alvish also tweeted the same, saying: “People now resorted to walking as the Discovery Gardens traffic becomes ridiculous.”
 
Sneha Ashar said: “Terrible traffic at Discovery Gardens. Stuck since an hour. Anybody knows what's happening? People actually getting off the bus!”
 
Resident Atul Aggarwal believes the issue is created by the traffic light timings, along with further access closures.
 
He said: “If we can increase the "Green" signal timing for the traffic coming from Gardens, it will help a lot. The Gardens traffic has gone worse now after few more Sheikh Zayed Road access closures.”

 

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