Drivers concerned over unlit parts of Ras Al Khaimah ring road

The 31km RAK ring road is one of the key roads of the emirate.-Supplied photo

Drivers in Ras Al Khaimah have voiced their concern over the unlit parts of the newly opened ring road. Some lights, according to an official, are being changed as part of an ongoing maintenance work.
"The unlit parts pose serious risks to road users and may lead to fatal accidents on the arterial road, which has already become a site of a number of collisions last year," they said.
Abdullah Salem, a resident in Ghalila area, said he has been using the ring road since it was opened because it does save drivers a lot of time and effort. "However, the unlit parts are dangerous, particularly because many drivers are using this major road in the early hours of the day, when there isn't enough natural light yet."
The Ministry of Infrastructure Development has attributed the poor lighting to some on-going emergency maintenance works.
"The two-month necessary service is critical to ensure road users' safety on the arterial road," said Ahmed Al Hammadi, director of the roads department at the ministry.
He added that the maintenance work is being done in phases. "The maintenance work will be finished soon and the major road, which links Ras Al Khaimah to other emirates, will be entirely lit in two months."
Resident Ali Saeed said the maintenance requirement was not an issue but he hoped the lighting problem could be addressed even while the works are ongoing. "Alternative sources of light must be provided," he said.
The 31km RAK ring road is one of the key roads of the emirate. It connects a number of major roads that link the cities of the country from the north to the south and from the east to the west.
Al Hammadi said the ministry gives much attention to the lighting system on the road and "that takes some time".
All the traditional pulp lights are being changed with high-quality, power-saving LED lights, he said.
"Some functioning lights are being changed to prolong their life span, and that is what is being done on some parts of the RAK ring road," Al Hammadi added.
ahmedshaaban@khaleejtimes.com