Bahrain roads ready for back to school rush

TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

Anxious parents, students, teachers and schools are on their last-minute back to school prep after a long hiatus brought forth by the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

But as desperate parents rush through checklists for the new school terms, equally busy behind the scene are yet another group of people. They were working tirelessly, day and night, for the past several weeks to make the way clear for the kids.

The Ministry of Works, the General Directorate of Traffic, The Interior Ministry and countless other officials and workers were busy drawing up and implementing plans to handle the upcoming back to school rush. Schools in Bahrain are reopening on Tuesday for the new 2021-2022 academic year, after closing doors on the 26th of February last year.

“There will be a significant difference in the traffic situation compared to the previous period, as the students, staff and workers in the government and private agencies make their way back,” said the Ministry of Works, Municipalities Affairs and Urban Planning.

“Easing congestion and providing a safe environment for students and road users,” the ministry said, called for implementing several improvements projects in the road sector, especially on those in the vicinity of schools.

Priority was for the construction of sidewalks and medians, the ministry said. Accordingly, the ministry conducted upgrading works on Abdul Rahman Al-Fadil Street near Abdul Rahman Al Nasser School in Muharraq, on the corridor leading to the entrance to Rabaa Al-Adawiya School in Al-Qudaibiya, and roads adjacent to Sitra School (Markouban).

Besides, the ministry created car parks for The Children’s Academy School in Haninia, Riffa and the Bahraini Saudi Institute for the Blind in Isa Town, paved the entrance to the new Indian school in Riffa, and constructed a road leading to the American school in Wadi al-Buhair.

The authority also constructed speed-reducing heights and repainted pedestrian crossings, traffic signs, sidewalks near schools across the Kingdom, in addition to maintaining traffic lights.

Coordination has also been made with the General Traffic Department at the Ministry of Interior to place traffic light technicians at peak times during the first week of school reopening.

The ministry is also urging road users on the importance of using alternate routes to reduce congestions, especially during peak times near schools and government offices. The ministry said it is expecting heavy traffic flow near the education area in Isa Town.

Isa Town area houses several facilities, which includes ten schools, buildings of the University of Bahrain, Bahrain Polytechnic University, Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Information, The information and eGovernment Authority, the headquarters of the Central Governorate and several other institutions.

“To avoid congestion, it is necessary to use the new paths for the educational district from Sheikh Salman Street to Street 41 and from Istiklal Street to Road 4013 near the gate of the Ministry of Education.”

The ministry also advises using the outlet from Sheikh Salman Street to Road 4109 near Sheikh Abdullah Secondary School for Boys, the outlet from 16 December Street to Street 41 near Ibn Khaldoun National School, outlet from the intersection of 16 December Street with Road 4109 at the intersection of the General Directorate of Traffic.

The ministry is also expecting higher traffic density in several other locations, where upgrading and infrastructure works are ongoing, including that on Al Fateh Street.

“It is part of the Manama Ring Road, which aims at easing traffic between Sheikh Isa Salman Street, Umm Al-Hassam, Mina Salman, and Al-Fateh Street.

Works Ministry said it seeks to provide the best solution to traffic issues daily with the General Traffic Department, either through road projects or urgent and smart solutions. The ministry also seeks to introduce an intelligent transportation system that uses electronic screens to guide and provide drivers with traffic instructions.