Ria Street Development Project Phase One Completed, Boosting Capacity by 110%

TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune - www.newsofbahrain.com

The Ministry of Works has announced the completion of the first phase of the Ria Street Development project, a key initiative within its road development program. The project significantly enhances the road's capacity, increasing it to 4,000 vehicles per hour, a 110% increase from its previous capacity.

The Ministry has also announced six urgent projects aimed at alleviating traffic congestion. The first phase of the Ria Street project involved developing the road from its intersection with Arad Street to its intersection with 12th Street, covering a distance of 1.2 kilometers. This development aims to facilitate smooth traffic flow and improve accessibility for residents of the area.

The project included a comprehensive overhaul of Ria Street, transforming it into a dual carriageway with two lanes in each direction. The project also encompassed the modernisation of existing intersections by introducing traffic lights, providing pedestrian walkways, establishing a storm water drainage network, upgrading and maintaining infrastructure, enhancing lighting, installing road signs and markings, and constructing pedestrian barriers for enhanced safety. Underground channels have been incorporated for future service access, eliminating the need to cut asphalt.

The project significantly boosts the road's capacity, which currently handles approximately 15,000 vehicles per hour daily, with a peak capacity of 1,900 vehicles per hour during rush hours. Before the development, the road's capacity was limited to 1,600 vehicles per hour. With the addition of two lanes in each direction, upgraded intersections, and acceleration and deceleration lanes, the capacity has been increased to 4,000 vehicles per hour, representing a 110% increase.

The Ministry is actively working on six urgent projects to alleviate traffic congestion, as part of the third and fourth packages.

The third package includes two projects: adding a third lane in each direction on Al Mahzoura Street between Um Al Nasan Avenue and its intersection with 37th Street, and developing the intersection of Shaikh Jaber Al Sabah Street with 1st Street leading to Um Al Saad Avenue.