An ambitious project to develop Al Fateh Highway and ease heavy traffic congestion will be launched in April, according to a top minister.
The GDN had reported last month that BD20.57 million had been allocated for expansions to the highway, in the 2021-2022 budget.
IntersectionWorks, Municipalities Affairs and Urban Planning Minister Essam Khalaf said yesterday the project, extending from Shaikh Hamad Causeway in the north to the Mina Salman intersection in the south, will also provide alternative routes for the Juffair area.
The main work will include expanding Al Fateh Highway into four lanes in each direction with the construction of a three-lane tunnel each way at the intersection of Al Fateh Highway with Awal Road (The Gulf Hotel intersection) and the provision of a ground intersection controlled by traffic lights.
“The project is one of the major strategic projects in the infrastructure sector that supports the development process and contribute to the development of the road network in the kingdom, by working to find the best solutions to address traffic congestion,” said Mr Khalaf.
“Al Fateh Highway is the main road carrying traffic to the east of the capital and it is part of a larger project, the Manama Ring Road, which aims to create free and non-stop traffic in the capital,” he added.
It will also feature the construction of an overpass with two lanes for traffic going from the north of Manama on Al Fateh Highway to Prince Saud Al Faisal Road in Juffair while the current intersection of Al Fateh Highway with Shaikh Duaij Road will be closed.An upper bridge with two lanes of U-turns near the entrance to Al Fateh Corniche for traffic heading north will be constructed.
“The project will reduce traffic congestion on the highway and raise the level of traffic safety on it, as the volume of traffic used on Al Fateh Highway at the present time is 87,000 vehicles per day, and it is expected that the traffic volume will reach 138,000 vehicles per day in 2030,” Mr Khalaf was quoted as saying previously.
“It is hoped, after the completion of the project, to provide a highway with the capacity to carry 140,000 vehicles per day to serve the transit traffic of Al Fateh Highway, as well as to provide smooth outlets for the Juffair and Gudaibiya areas, as well as the villages of Juffair, Al Ghuraifah and Umm Al Hassam.”
Preparations have been made by the ministry so that the project does not clash with any other developmental or infrastructure work in the area such as the track for the train which will run through the area in the future.
ghazi@gdn.com.bh
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