By dubailife 
Dubai will soon see two new Salik toll gates—Business Bay and Al Safa South—becoming operational on Sunday, November 24, as announced by Salik PJSC. Strategically located, the Business Bay gate will be positioned at Business Bay Crossing on Al Khail Road, while the Al Safa South gate will be situated on Sheikh Zayed Road between Al Meydan Street and Umm Al Sheif Street. With these additions, the number of Salik gates in Dubai will rise from eight to ten.
The Business Bay route is vital for motorists from areas like Sharjah, Al Nahda, and Al Qusais, offering a primary connection to the highly trafficked Al Khail Road.
**Traffic Relief and Enhanced Flow**
The addition of these toll gates is set to reduce congestion, according to Salik CEO Ibrahim Al Haddad. The Business Bay Crossing gate is expected to decrease traffic by:
– 12% to 15% on Al Khail Road
– 10% to 16% on Al Rabat Street
Meanwhile, the Al Safa South gate will help alleviate traffic by:
– Reducing right-turn traffic volume from Sheikh Zayed Road to Meydan Street by 15%
– Enhancing flow between Financial Center Street and Meydan Street
– Distributing traffic to wider First Al Khail and Al Asayel Streets
Al Haddad also noted that the Al Safa South gate is integrated with the existing Al Safa North gate, allowing for a single toll charge for vehicles passing both gates within an hour.
**Green Energy Milestone**
Both new gates will be nearly 100% solar-powered, marking a first for Salik and aligning with Dubai’s sustainability initiatives and green energy goals.
**Clarification on Dynamic Pricing Rumors**
Contrary to recent rumors about dynamic toll pricing, Salik confirmed that there are currently no changes to the fixed toll rate of Dh4 per crossing. Any potential adjustments to toll fees would need to be approved by the Executive Council of Dubai and would be overseen by the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) based on extensive traffic assessments.
**Future Toll Gate Expansions**
Addressing queries on additional toll gates, Al Haddad stated that there is no fixed timeline for further Salik gates beyond those launching on November 24. The decision to add new tolls depends on traffic flow and congestion studies, with a focus on optimizing Dubai’s road networks to improve transportation efficiency. Any future toll rate changes would also require authorization from the Executive Council of Dubai.
Source : Khaleejtimes