Work on Shaikh Zayed Highway Development Project, which began last August, is progressing according to schedule, said a statement from Ministry of Works, Municipalities Affairs and Urban Planning.
The expansion of the Shaikh Zayed Highway is one of the most important strategic projects on Bahrain’s main road network, it stated.
Assistant Undersecretary for Ministry of Works, Municipalities Affairs and Urban Planning Huda Abdulla Fakhro said the first phase of the project features the expansion of the highway to three lanes in both directions from December 16 Highway to Shaikh Khalifa bin Salman Highway and from the western roundabout of A’ali to Shaikh Isa bin Salman Highway.
“Four roundabouts along the Shaikh Zayed Highway will also be converted into intersections with traffic lights with the project also including lighting work, roadblocks, traffic signs, revamping the asphalt layers, beautification and landscaping as well as rainwater drainage,” she explained.
According to her, the scope of work includes the diversion and protection of ground services, the development of the rainwater drainage network on the road and surrounding areas as well as executing the implementation of a sewage station and sewage transmission light to serve the Ramli Housing Project.
Fakhro said the ministry had already started establishing a rainwater drainage network on the 16 December Highway, in addition to sewage network.
Temporary diversion roads are also being built between the Shaikh Salman Avenue and Avenue 36 in A’ali, she added.
She pointed out that the highway’s capacity was being estimated at 53,000 vehicles per day in the two directions. Around 2,800 vehicles will be using the highway during the morning peak hour, while the number will peak to 3,500 in the afternoon and 3,200 during the evening peak hours.
Fakhro said by 2030, the highway’s capacity will increase to 100,000 vehicles per day, with an average of 5,400 vehicles during the morning peak hour, 6,700 during the afternoon peak hour and 6,100 during the evening peak hour.
The key project will contribute to reducing traffic congestion in both Salmabad and A’ali as well as facilitate access to them, while also easing access to the Educational Area in Isa Town and addressing traffic jams in front of the driving school in A’ali and Bahrain National Stadium.
Source: Trade Arabia News Services
