Plans are under way to turn a highly congested road leading to Bahrain International Airport (BIA) into a highway.

The Airport Avenue, which starts from the entrance of Busaiteen and ends at BIA, suffers major tailbacks throughout the day with reports of motorists getting stuck for at least 40 minutes.

The Works, Municipalities and Urban Planning Affairs Ministry has been given the green light to start work on the project, which will see the road turned into a three-lane dual carriageway.

New exits and entrances will also be built for residents of the area, along with the creation of 60 additional car-parks at Muharraq Oasis Mall. The project comes as the $1-billion airport expansion is in the works.