Bahrain’s first U-turn flyover opens
TDT | Manama
The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com
Reported by Zahra Ayaz
Works Minister Ibrahim bin Hassan Al-Hawaj inaugurated yesterday Bahrain’s first U-turn or turnaround flyover as part of the ongoing BD30 million Al Fateh Highway enhancement project supported by the Saudi Fund for Development.
The bridge serves traffic from Juffair via Prince Saudi Al-Faisal Highway to Al-Fateh Highway towards Mina Salman and those heading west to Shaikh Duaij Highway. “We are taking all possible steps to accelerate the progress of the Al Fateh Expansion and development project, which has reached 51% completion,” said Al-Hawaj.
The project, fulfilled to international standards, is capable of fulfilling the current and future needs of the Kingdom. He also revealed that the project, in its next stage, calls for diverting traffic over the tunnel.
“So that the intersection at the Gulf Hotel will temporarily turn into an oval-shaped roundabout with a light signal after completing one of the tunnel segments for which work is continuing.” The one-way bridge, the minister said, had completed concrete foundations and bridge columns.
“Most of the bridge’s surface is also completed.” The works, extending from Shaikh Hamad Causeway in the north to the Mina Salman intersection in the south, will also provide alternative options for the Juffair area.
Two bridges and one underpass
Speaking to The Daily Tribune, Kurian Paul, the project manager for the Al Fateh Highway development project, said: “Once the renovation is complete, there would be free movement from Business Bay all the way down to Mina Salman.”
“It will have two bridges and one underpass. The underpass tunnel will be at the Gulf Hotel Junction, and the Shaikh Duaij Junction will have a left-turn flyover so that people travelling from Manama can take the left flyover from Juffair.
“Those travelling from Juffair through Mina Salman will also have a free flow, but they must turn north to catch this U-turn high above the flyover that is opening today.” He highlighted that the left flyover completion work will begin in January 2023 and finish by the end of March.
Four lanes, 140,000 vehicles per day
It is worth knowing that the mega project expands Al Fateh Highway into four lanes in each direction, with a three-lane tunnel each way at the intersection of Al Fateh Highway with Awal Road (The Gulf Hotel intersection) and a ground intersection controlled by traffic lights.
The project also features the construction of an overpass with two lanes for traffic from the north of Manama on Al Fateh Highway to Prince Saud Al Faisal Road in Juffair, as the current intersection of Al Fateh Highway with Shaikh Duaij Road will be closed. Traffic heading north will be through an upper bridge with two lanes of U-turns near the entrance to Al Fateh Corniche.
Once completed, the project will handle 140,000 vehicles per day, against the current 87,000 vehicles per day.
Opening ceremony
Yesterday’s opening ceremony was in the presence of Shaikh Rashid bin Abdulrahman Al Khalifa, the Capital Governor, Youssef Hammoud, the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Finance and National Economy, Sheikh Mishaal bin Mohammed Al Khalifa, the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Works, Hassan Al Madani, the Deputy Governor of the Capital Governorate, Adnan Ishaq, the Assistant Undersecretary for Financial Policies and Budget at the Ministry of Finance and National Economy, and Kazem Abdul Latif, the Assistant Undersecretary for Roads.
The event also was attended by a delegation from the Saudi Fund for Development represented by Bandar Al-Obaid, Rayan Mal, Bandar Al-Obaid, Director General of Arab Projects, Sayed Badr Al-Alawi, Director of the Road Projects and Maintenance Department at the Ministry of Works, Maha Hamada, Director of the Roads Planning and Design Department at the Ministry of Works, Saleh Tarada, Chairman of the Capital Municipality Council, Colonel Adel Al-Dosari, Director of Traffic Operations, Samir Nass, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Nass Group (the executing company), Shawqi Al-Hashimi, CEO of Nass Contracting Company, and Kholoud Al-Qattan, Vice-Chairman of the Council Capital secretariat.
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