Work on Shaikh Zayed Highway Development Project ‘underway’

Work on Shaikh Zayed Highway Development Project, which began last August, is progressing according to schedule, Assistant Undersecretary for Roads at the Works, Municipalities Affairs and Urban Planning, Huda Fakhro, said. She said that the expansion of the Shaikh Zayed Highway is one of the most important strategic projects on Bahrain’s main road network, noting that 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 noted. She added that the Works Ministry had already started establishing a rainwater drainage network on the 16 December Highway, in addition to sewage network, noting that temporary diversion roads are being built between the Shaikh Salman Avenue and Avenue 36 in A’ali.

She pointed out that the highway’s capacity is estimated at 53,000 vehicles per day in the two directions and that 2,800 vehicles use the highway during the morning peak hour, 3,500 in the afternoon peak hour and 3,200 in the evening peak hour. She indicated that 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.

The development of the key artery will include 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. Bahrain’s Ministry of Works, Municipal Affairs, and Urban Planning, along with UAE-based Western Bainoona Group, launched Phase 1 of the $62m (BHD23.4m) Shaikh Zayed Highway extension project in the Kingdom last June.

The project was launched following an agreement signing ceremony between Bahrain’s Minister of Works, Municipal Affairs, and Urban Planning, Essam Khalaf and representatives of the UAE firm, as well as the UAE Ambassador to Bahrain, Shaikh Sultan bin Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan. The UAE’s state-held news agency, Wam, reported that the project, which is funded byAbu Dhabi Fund for Development, is a part of the Gulf Development Programme. Mr Khalaf said the project was a “key part” of the country’s efforts to improve its road network, adding that it would help reduce traffic congestion. Phase 1 of the project will see streets being expanded to three lanes in both directions, in addition to street renovation activities. New traffic lights and signs, roadblocks, lighting, landscaping, and rainwater drainage will also be installed. Mr Khalaf had said waiting times at its intersections would also be reduced by 60 per cent once roadworks are completed.