Al-Fateh Mosque tunnel project nearing completion

TDT | Manama  

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

The BD30 million Al-Fateh Mosque tunnel project is rapidly nearing completion, with more than 80% of the work already finished, announced Ibrahim bin Hassan Al-Hawaj, the Minister of Works.

With this, the project, scheduled for a phased opening in the third quarter of this year, has taken a major step forward in its ambitious development. During an inspection tour of the site, Minister Al-Hawaj highlighted the ongoing progress on the construction of the tunnel's ceilings and the final concrete sections within the three covered tunnels and walls.

As of now, the project has consumed over 600 cubic metres of concrete with the help of a dedicated workforce consisting of 90 workers, supervisors, and engineers. The Minister further revealed plans to implement significant traffic diversions at the intersection of Al-Fateh Mosque during the partial opening stage of the tunnel.

Following this phase, work will shift to the remaining eight segments on the southwestern side, adjacent to the Gulf Hotel. Minister Al-Hawaj also expressed his hopes for completing all the remaining works and fully opening the tunnel in the first quarter of next year.

The Al-Fateh Mosque tunnel is an integral part of the extensive Al Fateh Highway development project, stretching from Shaikh Hamad Causeway in the north to the Mina Salman intersection in the south.

The project calls for expanding Al Fateh Highway into four lanes in each direction, the construction of a three-lane tunnel in both directions at the intersection of Al Fateh Highway with Awal Road (the Gulf Hotel intersection), and the establishment of a ground intersection controlled by traffic lights.

The overall project completion rate currently stands at 69%. In addition, Minister Al-Hawaj disclosed that the rainwater drainage network pump for the tunnel has achieved 15% completion, with 37% progress made on the road paving at the main intersections. The Tenders Board awarded the project to Nass Contracting and Huta Hegerfeld, Saudi Arabia. The project is being funded by the Saudi Fund for Development.