Millions of dinars will be spent on road improvements across Bahrain next year, Works, Municipalities and Urban Planning Affairs Minister Essam Khalaf has revealed.

Speaking at a media briefing following yesterday's weekly Cabinet session, the minister outlined six key projects costing in excess of BD19 million ($49.9 million) that his ministry will either implement or complete during 2015, said a report in the Gulf Daily News (GDN), our sister publication.

He also gave an update on the BD8-million ($21.2 million) Dirt Roads Paving Programme, which is currently focused on Busaiteen, Zinj, Tubli, Hidd and Sanad.

“The string of projects currently being implemented with the support of the $10-billion GCC aid fund contribute to the development of Bahrain, enhance its competitiveness regionally, improve the quality of government services and activate partnerships with the private sector,” said Khalaf.

“According to studies conducted on future expansion needs and requirements, the ministry strived to keep pace by developing the main road network in accordance with the government's priorities and blueprint.

“The ministry gave priority to the projects that complement new and future housing projects, which naturally require new alternative roads to accommodate traffic in those areas.”

First among the proposed road projects mentioned by the minister was the Muharraq Ring Road, which includes a fourth causeway connecting the island to Manama.

Phase One of the project, launched in April, is now halfway complete and carries a price tag of BD5 million ($13.3 million), Khalaf said.

Next on the minister's list was the expansion of Shaikh Zayed Highway, which is planned to become a major route capable of handling in excess of 50,000 vehicles a day, followed by the creation of a BD7.5-million ($19.9 million) flyover along Shaikh Khalifa bin Salman Highway linking Hamad Town's roundabouts 13 and 18, which is envisaged as the 'third entrance to Hamad Town'.

Bids are also being invited for increasing the number of lanes on Shaikh Khalifa bin Salman Highway, said Khalaf, as studies had revealed that 160,000 vehicles use it every day.

Fifth on the minister's list was the replacement of the roundabouts at Alba and Nuwaidrat with flyovers, a project which is still at the implementation stage while BD3.95 million ($10.5 million) of preparatory works are completed.

Lastly, the minister provided an update on the Juffair Ring Road project and expansion of Awal Avenue, which were described as 38 per cent and 25 per cent complete, respectively.

Adding an extra lane in each direction to Awal Avenue was costing BD759,337 ($2 million), Khalaf said, while creating a four-lane ring road from the interchange of Al Fateh Highway and Shaikh Duaij Avenue in the west to Al Najma Club in the east was costing BD2 million ($.5.3 million).

“Both projects will serve the Juffair area, considering that it is one of the most important investment and residential areas in Bahrain,” said Khalaf.

Meanwhile, the minister revealed that designs were being prepared for eight other dirt road paving projects in addition to those that were already complete or under way.

His ministry was now coordinating with the Finance Ministry to allocate the needed BD3.2 million ($8.5 million) budget, Khalaf said.

There are an estimated 26 km of roads left to be paved in Bahrain, serving 1,523 residential real estates in eight residential blocks, he added. - TradeArabia News Service