Roads ready for F1 show

Director General of Traffic Shaikh Rashid bin Abdulrahman Al Khalifa yesterday said that as per the directives of Interior Minister Lieutenant General Shaikh Rashid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa, the department had put in place a comprehensive traffic plan for the Formula One Bahrain Grand Prix to be held From April 17 to 19.

He said that a team equipped with all devices and equipment had been formed to cover the event. “An office had been allocated to deal with any traffic accidents at the event venue. Another team had been assigned to King Fahad Causeway to facilitate the entry of vehicles and trucks arriving for the event,” he said.

Elaborating the preparations, he said: “Traffic preparations covered the roads leading to the Bahrain International Circuit (BIC) from the Awali roundabout to the Sakhir junction, and from the Sakhir Palace roundabout to the Zallaq flyover. Also from the main signal near the University of Bahrain to Al Zallaq road and its junction with the Bahrain Bay road leading to the west gate of the Bahrain University and then to the BIC signal for the first entrance to parking lots 14, 13, 5, 4, 3, 2 and 1.”

“The second entrance will be for parking lots 16, 15, 10, 9, 8, 7 and 6. The department has allocated parking 10 for an office to deal with minor traffic accidents,” he said.

The Director-General said his department was prepared to handle any increase in the number of visitors on the third day of the event.

It had prepared an organised traffic plan to facilitate the movement of a large number of vehicles within the shortest period without traffic jams after the end of the race by directing the vehicles leaving the venue to all lanes, including the lane opposite the Awali roundabout and the Shaikh Khalifa bin Salman highway going towards Manama.

He called upon those who wanted to attend the event to arrive early and ensure that they carried their tickets.

The parking sticker should be stuck in the vehicle where it could be easily seen. He also urged visitors to cooperate with the traffic personnel and follow traffic regulations for the success of the event.