Gridlock after snow becoming a familiar nuisance for motorists

AMMAN – Freezing temperatures are not motorists’ biggest concern when a snowstorm hits the Kingdom, but the ensuing traffic jams when employees go back to work are. 

Several people on Tuesday complained that arriving at their workplace on time has become “mission impossible” due to roads narrowed by piles of snow. 

Randa Hamdan, a public sector engineer, said it took her nearly an hour-and-a-half to get from Sweileh to Shmeisani in Amman. 

“In normal weather conditions, the trip takes a maximum of 20 minutes,” she said.

Hamdan said that most of the employees suffered the same problem. 

Traffic jams have become a regular nuisance following snowstorms. 

Roaa Majali, a private sector employee, said she left her home in Dahiyet Rashid at 9:15am and arrived at work near the 7th Circle at 11:15am. 

Not just major roads witnessed bumper-to-bumper traffic — even side streets were congested, Majali said, adding that the streets were still icy at that time of the morning.

“People are right to be concerned about traffic jams after the snow,” she noted. 

Government departments and banks started work at 10am on Tuesday, instead of 8am, in an attempt to prevent traffic accidents caused by slippery roads. 

Public Security Department Spokesperson Maj. Amer Sartawi said major traffic jams always take place after a long holiday. 

“When people are off for a long period of time, all of them return at the same time either to their jobs or to process formal papers,” he told The Jordan Times over the phone. 

The government had four days of holiday since last Wednesay — when the snowstorm started affecing the Kingdom ­— because of road closures caused by accumulating snow and frost formation. 

Sartawi noted that most people avoid side streets because of the ice, which results in congestion on main roads. 

“Today, most bridges were also closed to motorists because of the ice which was one of the main reasons behind the traffic jams,” the PSD official explained. 

Mohammad Aqrabawi, a private sector employee, said he was late for work because of road congestion. 

“Some people believe special traffic jams only happen in such weather conditions. They also take place because most employees go to work at the same time and leave at the same time,” he added. 

Ali, a taxi driver, echoed Aqrabawi’s statement, noting that Tuesday’s gridlock had a negative impact on his business. 

“I will barely meet the expenses of my family today because of the horrible traffic jams in Amman,” he said. 

Aqrabawi suggested applying a 30-minute difference between the start of private and public sector working hours to prevent this problem. 

Sartawi also called on motorists to delay the time they go out to obtain or submit official documents and give priority to employees to avoid gridlock.

Working hours at banks and public departments are scheduled to begin at 9:30am on Wednesday, according to government and Central Bank of Jordan decisions.