Bahrain's Ministry of Works, Municipalities Affairs and Urban Planning has invited bids for the study and detailed designs for Budaiya Highway revamp and expansion which will increase the capacity of the highway to more than 100,000 vehicles a day.

The studies will focus on the possibility of expanding the highway to three lanes in each direction, and create service roads for the real estates overlooking Budaiya Highway, which have no alternative access points, stated Huda Fakhro, the roads assistant undersecretary at the Ministry of Works, Municipalities Affairs and Urban Planning.

"The project also includes revamping the existing intersections and creating more, if needed. This aims to create alternative entrance and exit points to the villages overlooking the highway," she noted.

The scope of work includes provision of ground channels for the services extending along the highway, a storm water drainage network, improvement of lighting, pedestrian barriers and barriers to protect vehicles from crashing in case of an accident, stated Fakhro.

"There will also be pedestrian bridges at crossing points; to replace the existing traffic signals," she added.

Presently over 68,000 vehicles travel on the Budaiya Highway everyday. Following the completion of the project, its capacity will increase to more than 100,000 vehicles a day.

According to her, the ministry has created many access points to the villages on the main highways such as Khalifa bin Salman Highway via Avenue 13, Sheikh Isa bin Salman Highway via Avenue 27 and Janabiya Highway via Avenue 35.

The accesses provided alternatives for residents in the area; away from the highly congested Budaiya Highway.

Work is expected to commence once the detailed designs for the project are completed and services approval is obtained, she added.-TradeArabia News Service