Security guards from Jumeirah Lakes Towers were deployed at key traffic points on Tuesday, a day after motorists were forced to leave the area as traffic ground to a halt.
The normal congestion was on Monday worsened when a car broke down and by increased traffic from students returning to school.
Motorists who work in the area were still unhappy.
“I’ve had to change my work schedule and all my shifts to make sure I arrive here at 8am instead of 9am,” said Bahija Chenet, a French resident who works in the Indigo Icon tower.
“My shift used to be 9am to 6pm, but if I try to come in at 9am I won’t reach work before 10am.”
The trip usually takes Ms Chenet seven minutes from Dubai Sports City. It now takes her up to 45 minutes. “Everyone is complaining,” she said. “It’s become much worse since just before Ramadan and because the barriers for parking are now activated no one can park anywhere, so it creates even more traffic.”
The JLT security guards were sent to control traffic at different points, including the main roundabout and the Almas area. But some motorists said the guards only made the situation worse.
“People don’t even queue any more. They just cut you off so it takes longer and it’s never been this bad,” said Kate McGrath, from the UK. With her two daughters attending nursery in Cluster G and her offices in the Jumeirah Business Centre 1 building, the family has to leave home in Jumeirah Village Triangle half an hour earlier every day. “It used to take us 15 minutes and now we sit in traffic for at least 40 minutes,” Ms McGrath said. “It’s been much worse over the last couple of weeks and I heard that they’ll been shutting one of the roads, so I’m dreading that.”
Traffic started building at 8.15am and by 9am most vehicles had come to a standstill.
“Traffic is horrendous, which is why I usually walk,” said Lee Horn, a British resident who also works in Indigo Icon. “But with the heat I have to take taxis, and when I finish at 6pm or 7pm I can never find any.”
Mr Horn lives in the DEC building in the Marina, about 10 minutes from his office. The drive on Monday took an hour.
“It’s terrible,” he said. “I don’t live too far but since Ramadan it’s become worse.”
J?A, also from the UK, has been working in Dubai Arch in Cluster G for three years. He blamed the troubles on the redevelopment of the road network.
“It’s become awful,” he said. “It goes on sometimes until late at night, until 10pm, and I can overlook all of it.”
Many residents complained on Twitter.
Rami Salame tweeted: “Might as well change its name to Jumeirah Locked Traffic.”
The JLT master developer, Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC), last month announced there would be two road closures in early September.
It was part of work being done by the Roads and Transport Authority to connect JLT with the First Al Khail Road, previously called the Western Parallel Road network.
DMCC said alternative exit routes would be provided.
