Alba-Nuwaidrat intersection revamp work in full swing

Manama : Works, Municipalities Affairs and Urban Planning Minister Essam bin Abdullah Khalaf has toured the Alba-Nuwaidrat Interchange Revamp Project funded by the Kuwaiti Fund for Arab Economic Development as part of the Gulf Fund Programme.

The minister said the project is one of the most important strategic projects to develop the roads network in  the  Kingdom, as the area is witnessing growing commercial and investment activity, together with a number of industrial facilities adjacent to the project.

Traffic is diverted for the construction of flyovers along Alba Roundabout. Once completed, the project will ease traffic congestion in the area. The project site currently witnesses a traffic movement of over 100,000 vehicles per day. 

The minister called for speeding up the present work pace and complete the remaining work on Nuwaidrat flyover, the link flyover to King Hamad Highway from Shaikh Jaber Al Ahmed Al Sabah Avenue and Avenue 15 (specifically Refinery Avenue), which is to ensure smooth movement. He also stressed the importance of clearing locations once work is completed, increasing working hours and doubling the number of workers on site. 

The minister referred to the directives of the Leadership and the Government and their ongoing follow-up to the progress achieved in this highly important strategic project. He also expressed the readiness of the Ministerial Committee for Urbanization & Infrastructure, chaired by HH Deputy Prime Minister Shaikh Khalid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa, to monitor and detect possible obstacles that could obstruct work progress. 

The ministry adopts the strategy of interim launch of the different phases involved in the implementation of the project, where each part is opened for traffic once completed, aiming to ease the traffic congestion. The ministry, for example, opened the right lane for traffic coming from Shaikh Jaber Al Sabah Avenue towards Estiqlal Highway, which contributed to easing traffic congestion and reducing waiting time. 

The minister said that 152 pillars were installed along Nuwaidrat Roundabout. Also, all castings in the north and south flyovers were put in place and 97 pillars had been, prior to completing the casting of the 2 flyovers in the upcoming phase, he added.