The first phase of a BD24 million ($62 million) interchange project in Bahrain will be up and running in mid-July, said a senior government official.

The Mina Salman Interchange project, one of Bahrain's largest infrastructure schemes, connecting Isa bin Salman Highway with Al Fateh Highway will divert at least 50 per cent of the traffic from the crossing, Works Minister Essam Khalaf was quoted as saying in the Gulf daily News.

He was speaking as he toured the site to take stock of the progress and speak to those involved in the project, including contractors Afcons Infrastructure.

"Seventy per cent of the work at the site is already completed and the whole project is expected to be on stream by the end of the year," he said.

"Half the number of vehicles that use the intersection are bound for Manama and other areas like Juffair and Exhibition Road. All these will now skip the intersection, considerably reducing traffic flow."

Khalaf said hundreds of labourers have been working round the clock to complete the project ahead of schedule.

"All of the project, supposed to be completed by the end of the year, will be completed well before that," he said. "Around 650 workers are on the job round the clock."

"They (Afcons Infrastructure) had been instructed to complete the project in the shortest time possible so that inconvenience to the public is minimised."

Khalaf said an underpass connecting the Isa bin Salman Highway and the Khalifa bin Salman Causeway was 82 per cent complete.

"Work is now going on to fill in the sides and metal the road. This will take a few months," he added. "The side roads connecting the Mina Salman Industrial Area and Umm Al Hassam will then be opened after which the project will be commissioned."

More than 74,000 vehicles, 24 per cent of which are heavy, pass through the junction daily, according to ministry figures.

The project consists of the construction of a three-level underpass from the Shaikh Isa bin Salman Causeway leading to Hidd in both directions - via the Shaikh Khalifa bin Salman Causeway.

There will also be a flyover with two lanes for traffic coming from Shaikh Isa bin Salman Highway and heading to the north towards Al Fateh Highway. – TradeArabia News Service