Construction work is under way on a BD52-million ($138 million) project that will transform traffic flow in the Southern Governorate of Bahrain.

Two major roundabouts, Alba and Nuwaidrat, are set to be replaced with flyovers as part of the three-year project. Traffic will begin to be redirected towards the end of this month and the first flyovers are expected to be open in two years.

The second phase of the project was inaugurated last month by Deputy Prime Minister Shaikh Khalid bin Abdulla Al Khalifa, in the presence of Works, Municipalities and Urban Planning Affairs Minister Essam Khalaf, Energy Minister Dr Abdulhussain Mirza and other government officials.

“The two intersections are two of the most important in the Southern Governorate, which link both north to south and east to west,” said Shaikh Khalid.

The project is funded by Kuwait as part of the Gulf Development Fund for Bahrain.

“The project will cost a little more than BD50 million ($132.6 million) and will take 36 months to complete,” said Khalaf, adding that it was part of the Shaikh Jaber Al Ahmed Al Sabah Highway redevelopment.

“Developing these intersections is part of the Shaikh Jaber project, which we started on with Umm Al Hassam and the Sitra bridge,” he explained.

“Now we’re developing this strategic round, moving from a roundabout to a three-level flyover.

“The ground level will have traffic lights and an intersection, the first flyover will go from north to south and from Estiqlal Highway to King Hamad Highway, while the second flyover will lead from Shaikh Jaber Al Ahmed Al Sabah Highway to the south.

“The Nuwaidrat project will be a single flyover with the intersection below. Due to the project being close to the oil refinery and Riffa Power Station, it will present us with many challenges to complete the development while continuing to support these essential services,” Khalaf added (see also Bahrain).