NEW roads constructed in residential, commercial and investment areas over the past five years have led to a huge reduction in pressure on existing roads, according to an official.

Works, Municipalities Affairs and Urban Planning Ministry roads planning and designing director Kadhem Abdullatif said the new 10 entrances and exits have increased capacity significantly with them being used by 26,000 vehicles per day.

The new roads include an exit from Janabiya to Isa Bin Salman Highway, an entrance to Buri, a pocket between Abu Quwah and Khalifa Bin Salman Highway, routes to the educational district in Isa Town, a link between Howrat A’ali area and Shaikh Salman Highway, entrance from Shaikh Khalifa Bin Salman Bridge to Juffair, a new U-turn at the junction between Khalifa Bin Salman Highway and Wali Al Ahd Highway, a link between Busaiteen and Isa Bin Salman Bridge, and an entrance from Askar to King Hamad Highway.

“The roads are being used daily by 26,000 vehicles but they can handle more than 58,000 vehicles a day,” said Mr Abdullatif.

“The number of vehicles using Khalifa Bin Salman Highway going towards Buri is 3,000 per day but the new entrance can handle 500 vehicles per hour.

“Use of the same highway at its junction with Wali Al Ahd roundabout junction is 1,300 with the highest being 150 per hour during peak hours and for that a new U-turn route has been opened for 400 vehicles per hour.

“People using Shaikh Salman Highway to the educational area in Isa Town now face fewer bottlenecks after the opening of a new link road for 4,700 vehicles with the area previously being used by a maximum of 850 vehicles per hour; a revamp of the same route can handle up to 1,600 vehicles per hour.”

The official said traffic between Howrat A’ali and Shaikh Salman Highway is 300 vehicles per day, but would increase to 2,000 vehicles due to urbanisation and development.

Traffic from Janabiya to Shaikh Isa Bin Salman Highway is currently 100 vehicles per day with it increasing to 500 per day with the revamp; while the new entrance from Askar to King Hamad Highway can handle 1,600 vehicles per day, up from 350.

Traffic from Khalifa Bin Salman Bridge towards Juffair is currently 4,700 a day, with 850 vehicles per hour at peak times, but the new link road can accommodate 1,600 vehicles per hour.

Mr Abdullatif said 5,000 vehicles use the Khalifa Bin Salman Highway (Al Qadam roundabout junction) per day with the peak hours witnessing 700 vehicles per hour.

“The new entrance copes with 1,600 vehicles per hour.”

l Resurfacing work on Shaikh Isa Bin Salman Causeway will lead to the closure of one lane and two lanes in stages for westbound traffic from Muharraq to Manama. The closure will start at 11pm today and end at 5pm on Sunday, the Works, Municipality Affairs and Urban Planning Ministry announced.

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