New design expected to solve traffic problems for good
KUWAIT CITY: Kuwait's Minister of Housing and Public Works Bader Nasser Al-Humaidi Saturday revealed the initial plans for the Fourth Ring Road improvement project, which is expected to cost 256 million dinars. Addressing a press conference, the minister said "the project has been designed by a consultant's office in such a way that it can cope up with the demands of the increase in population over the next 25 years." Indicating the consultant has come up with three designs for the project to enable the ministry choose the best among them, Al-Humaidi said "according to one design a three-tier bridge will be constructed to replace all traffic lights and tunnels in this arterial road to ensure a smooth flow of traffic." Assistant Undersecretary for Security Support Services at the Interior Ministry Major General Thabit Al-Muhanna and the town chiefs of areas surrounding the Fourth Ring Road were present during the press conference.
The minister also said "it is urgently necessary we expand the Fourth Ring Road, which connects several important areas of Kuwait, in view of the frequent traffic congestions faced by motorists." "The project will be implemented in four stages from October 2006 until October 2010," the minister said. "Work on the first phase will begin in October 2006 and end two years later in October 2008. While the second phase will be completed between 2007 and 2009, the third phase will begin in October 2007 and end in 2009." The last stage, which will start in 2008, will be completed in 2010, he continued. Stressing the important role of town chiefs in educating residents of the areas around the Fourth Ring Road about the implications of the project, Al-Humaidi said "they should help the ministry by calming down the people and asking them to remain patient until all construction works are completed."
Describing the Fourth Ring Road as an "important thoroughfare, which is being used by over 54,000 motorists every day," Al-Muhanna said it is urgently necessary we expand this road. Consultant in-charge of the initial design of project Tredit Duti said "the Fourth Ring Road is a non-stop road which, in its current condition, leads to frequent traffic jams." The new design, which includes alternative roads, will solve all the traffic problems for motorists who depend on this road, he added.Deputy Director General for License Affairs at Kuwait Municipality Khalid Abdulmohsen said "the Municipality will help the Minister of Public Works in the implementation of this vital project.""We will remove all the shops which sell used cars along the Fourth Ring Road before work on the project begins to ensure the project is completed in a record time," he noted.Another alternative calls for expanding the road through expropriating some houses on both sides of the thoroughfare.
By Talal Al-Shimiri
© Arab Times 2005
