HE Eng. Ibrahim bin Hassan Al-Hawaj, the Minister of Works, accompanied by Eng. Sh. Mishaal bin Mohammed Al Khalifa, the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Works, and Eng. Ahmed Sami Al-Tajer, the AUS for Roads, on a field visit to a number of main roads in various governorates of the Kingdom of Bahrain to monitor the efforts of the rain emergency team and inspect the progress of work on the ground, to ensure the smooth flow of traffic during the rainy season.
HE confirmed that the main road network and tunnels are passable and operating safely, noting that accumulations of rainwater had been observed on some roads, and are being dealt with immediately by the Rain Emergency Team in accordance with approved plans.
He noted that the Rain Emergency Team has been working at full capacity since the very first moments of the rainfall to maintain the flow of traffic and ensure road safety by draining rainwater accumulated on the main roads, which serve as the lifeline of traffic between the various regions of the Kingdom.
HE explained that the Ministry continues to implement its comprehensive plans to manage the rainy season by intensifying the cleaning of rainwater drainage networks and deploying water tankers and pumps at key locations, whilst strengthening coordination with relevant authorities, including the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Agriculture, the General Directorate of Traffic, the Capital Secretariat Council and municipal councils, to ensure a rapid response and minimise any potential impact on the safety of road users.
The Ministry of Works calls on road users to exercise caution whilst driving during rainfall and to report any water accumulation via the approved official channels or through the dedicated hotline for reporting rainwater accumulation on main roads on 17545544, emphasising that field teams are working round the clock to monitor reports and deal with them immediately.
The Ministry also stresses the importance of not opening manhole covers during rainfall and not disposing of waste into the rainwater drainage network, to prevent blockages, given the negative environmental and material consequences this can have, particularly in emergencies where the network must be ready to operate at full capacity.
