Road and vehicular safety have been pledged as Bahrain gears up for a sharp increase in traffic ahead of the reopening of schools this week for the new academic year.
With thousands of students and school employees returning to educational institutions, there will be immense pressure on the road network, said Works, Municipalities Affairs and Urban Planning Minister Essam Khalaf underlining the importance of distributing traffic on alternative routes.
From Friday, Bahrain entered the green level – the lowest alert level under the Covid-19 Alert Level Traffic Light System.
The GDN previously reported Education Minister Dr Majid Al Nuaimi as saying that 146,000 government school students and 80,000 private school students would start the new 2021-2022 academic year on Tuesday.
“With the return of students, school employees in addition to public and private sector employees – as part of the green level – there will be a significant difference in the traffic situation compared with the previous period,” said Mr Khalaf yesterday.
“Ahead of the new academic year, the ministry has implemented a number of improvement works on roads located near schools to facilitate traffic, ease congestion and provide a safe environment for students and road-users.
“One of the key projects was developing the pavement in the middle of Abdulrahman Al Fadhel Road near Abdulrahman Al Nasser School in Muharraq in addition to maintenance works on the entry of Rabe’a Al Adawiya School in Gudaibiya and other locations.”
Parking spaces were created near the Children’s Academy School in Hunainiya while paving was done at the entrance to the new Indian School in Riffa in addition to the construction of a road leading to the American School of Bahrain in Buhair.
Mr Khalaf also added that development and maintenance work on speed bumps near several schools were undertaken whilst also building a car park at the Saudi Bahraini Institute for the Blind in Isa Town.
“The ministry has also painted pedestrian crossings, speed bumps, road lines and pavements near schools while also performing maintenance works on traffic lights, traffic signs and pedestrian barriers at several schools to enhance traffic safety in the vicinity,” he added.
“We have also co-ordinated with the General Traffic Directorate to ensure traffic light technicians are present during peak hours in the first few weeks of returning to school.
“It is important to use alternative routes and distribute traffic as much as possible to avoid traffic congestion – especially at peak times – in light of the restoration projects on some roads.
“Key areas are expected to witness heavy traffic during the morning and evening peak hours such as areas near schools and government services like Isa Town.”
He also stressed the importance of using the new alternative routes developed in the Educational Area, adding that collaborative efforts are continuous with the Traffic Directorate to create the best solutions for daily traffic congestion.
He revealed that collaboration is underway with the Interior Ministry to develop smart transportation systems to further facilitate traffic.
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