Sharjah's main thoroughfare, Al Wahda Street, has closed for two years for improvements.
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00:00Al Bahadur street closed. This is the sign that is filling drivers with dread on their
00:10way into Sharjah. Getting home from work is already a traffic hell for residents. But
00:15the closure of one of Sharjah's main thoroughfares for the next two years is causing gridlock
00:20on the roads. This is Lawrence, a marketing executive who lives in Al Rola. We rode with
00:25him one evening on the way home from his office in Bardubai. It's 7 o'clock now, through with
00:34the office. We are starting to Sharjah now. It's tough, you know, it's very frustrating
00:47and every day spending about four hours in car. Okay, the first thing I say is I don't
00:54eat my breakfast at home. I pack up a few sandwiches and drinks so that I can use the
01:01time driving, having my breakfast. It's almost half past seven. I've just got onto the Maktoum
01:12bridge. The traffic is really bad. It's eight o'clock. I'm on the Ittihad road, just entered
01:38Sharjah and I've hit another bottleneck. Right now, Al Wada looks more like a pedestrian
01:56promenade. Authorities say it's going to be revamped with improved intersections and junctions.
02:02I'm on Al Wada street. As you can see, work has already started. It's been the main artery
02:07for drivers coming in and out of Sharjah. Now, Sharjah's public works department has
02:11said the new diversions would ease congestion during peak hours. But what is it doing to
02:17people's commutes? Let's find out. It is better in case if there is a development comes to
02:33Sharjah. But in case the time should be within one year, not more than that. I heard that
02:39it will take two years. Three diversions have been put in place. Although from our own journey
02:45into Sharjah, they don't appear to be easing congestion. Instead, many drivers are spending
02:50time carefully planning out alternative routes to and from work to avoid the traffic chaos.
02:56Finally, reached home. It's 10 o'clock now. Started from office around 7 o'clock. A good
03:04three hours of driving. Time for some rest now. And for Lawrence, just getting home after
03:11a hard day's work is an ordeal all unto itself. Sunita Menon, Gulf News.