Bahraini authorities are working on the expansion of the Um Al Hassam Interchange in the direction of Kuwait Avenue with a third lane linking the interchange with Kuwait Avenue to boost its capacity and accommodate traffic heading north towards Manama.

This comes in response to the directives of HRH Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Prime Minister,  to reduce traffic congestion across the kingdom, said a statement from Ministry of Works, Municipalities Affairs and Urban Planning.

The comprehensive planning process has been done to ensure the kingdom’s strategic road network is able to accommodate increased urban expansion, it stated.

The Um Al Hassam Interchange is one of key projects being financed by the GCC Development Programme, with investments of up to $1.2 billion for implementation by 2022, it added.
 
Commenting on the project, Huda Fakhro, the assistant undersecretary for roads at the ministry, said: "The Um Al Hassam Interchange represents a vital interchange connecting Manama, Isa Town and Sitra, and these works are important to improving access for road users."

"We are confident that in increasing the capacity of the junction from 2,200 vehicles per hour to 3,800 vehicles per hour, the new junction will serve to strengthen the kingdom’s investment environment," she added.
 
In another development, the ministry has announced that the traffic signal at the intersection of Road 4607 with access to the Four Seasons hotel in North Manama area (Bahrain Bay) within Capital Governorate will start operating from Sunday (July 16).

This is being done in co-operation with the General Directorate of  Traffic of the Ministry of the Interior, it added.-TradeArabid News Service