100,000 vehicles in a day
Manama : Traffic congestions are ‘inevitable’ while handling mega projects like that of the revamp of Alba intersection, which connects 5 main highways and handles nearly 20,000 vehicles per three hours, said Works Minister.
The Minister said the “nature of the work taking place on a large space” as well as “high traffic volume” results in “inevitable traffic congestions” along with any mega projects implemented on strategic roads and highways.
The statement was made by Works, Municipalities Affairs and Urban Planning Minister Essam Khalaf in his reply to MP Theyab Al Nuaimi on procedures taken to tackle traffic congestion on King Hamad Highway.
Al Nuaimi earlier pointed out that the ongoing construction works are causing heavy traffic conjestion on the highway which connects the southeastern towns of Jau, Askar and Al Dur, as well as Durrat Al Bahrain, with the Capital and the northern parts of the Kingdom.
The Alba intersection connects five main highways and avenues including King Hamad Highway, Al Mua’askar Highway, Istiqlal Highway, Shaikh Jaber Al Ahmad Al Sabah Highway and the Refinery Avenue, with a total traffic flow of 19, 460 vehicles during rush hours and 100,000 throughout the day.
The intersection is being revamped within Alba-Nuwaidrat Interchange Revamp Project funded by the Kuwaiti Fund for Arab Economic Development as part of the Gulf Fund Programme.
In his reply, the Minister clarified that the junction currently handles more than 7,000 vehicles during rush hours. “7, 034 vehicles crossed the junction in an hour from 6:30 am – 7:30 am.”
In a written statement, the minister also told the MP that “3,816 vehicles pass through the intersection coming from and en-route to King Hamad Highway”. Explaining the measures taken to ease the traffic flow, the Minister confirmed that the ministry has maintained “the same number of lanes (three) on the roundabout during the construction works period.”
“Additional temporary exits and entrances to and from the intersection” have also been opened. Date of completion is expected to be revealed in the weekly session on Tuesday.
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