The Ministry of Works recently completed a survey on the main interchanges and highways inside and outside the city of Manama and other roads projects in the vicinity. According to Huda Fakhro, Director of Roads Planning and Designs Directorate at the Ministry, the recent traffic statistics indicated an increase in the capacity of main highways and interchanges; due to the development and expansion projects implemented over the last four years.
“This success in implementing all such roads projects is a result of the Ministry’s Strategic Plan, which aims to improve traffic conditions and enhance the quality of life to all road users, for which the Ministry is responsible; as an active contributor to achieving the goals on the Economic Vision 2030,” said Huda Fakhro.
The Traffic Statistics revealed a rapid increase in traffic flow on some main highways and interchanges in the Kingdom, where the number of vehicles traveling down the Hilton Interchange rose from 3274 vehicles in 2009 to 4701 up until the present time; which is estimated to be a 30% increase. Following the transformation of the interchange into a traffic-controlled intersection, its capacity has been increased by 50%. Daily traffic volume at Ras Ruman Intersection also increased by 21% compared to 2002; a 31% increase following the replacement of the roundabout with a traffic signal. Traffic volume at both the Gulf Hotel and Bahrain Gas Intersections increased by 25%, where the capacity of both intersections improved by 30% following the development works implemented there recently.
A number of other immediate roads projects were also implemented, where a group of highly congested roundabouts were removed and turned into traffic-controlled interchanges in order to improve traffic flow and alleviate congestion. Some of the roundabouts as such are Salmaniya Roundabout, Hilton Roundabout, Government Roundabout, Ras Ruman, Sanad, Bahrain Gas and the General Traffic Directorate Roundabouts.
The Strategic Plan also included the construction of flyovers and tunnels on some highly congested interchanges such as Bahrain Map and Umm Al Hassam Interchanges and Isa Town Gate Interchange. Other similar projects are the development of Sitra Bridge and Sh. Salman Highway.
Traffic Statistics indicated a 28% increase in the daily traffic movement at the Government Interchange in comparison to 2002, where the capacity of the interchange increased by 47%. As for Salmaniya Interchange, traffic volume increased by 16%, and its capacity by 20%. Daily traffic movement at A’Ali Interchange increased by 36%, while its capacity increased by 28%. A 10% increase was also detected at Sanad Interchange, which equals to a 27% increase in its capacity, compared to 2002.
“We are proud, at the Ministry, to be able to conduct such surveys and thus prepare similar traffic statistics periodically. This is crucial to the implementation of Roads Strategic Plan until 2012, which mainly aims to bring forth a shift in the roads network performance, alleviate traffic congestion, increase traffic safety and create new opportunities for investment, all of which will eventually lead to the improvement of the quality of life for all citizens; in accordance with Bahrain Economic Vision 2030,” concluded Huda Fakhro.
