Work will commence next month on a $124-million revamp of a major highway in Bahrain, with two roundabouts being replaced by flyovers.

This follows an agreement was signed by a joint venture of Kuwait Construction and Abdulla Ahmed Nass and Works, Municipalities and Urban Planning Affairs Minister Essam Khalaf.

The project on Shaikh Jaber Al Ahmed Al Sabah Highway will involve transforming the Alba Roundabout into the country’s first three-level interchange, while a two-level interchange is planned for Nuwaidrat Roundabout. It also involves upgrading all highways and roads leading to these roundabouts, namely Sheikh Jaber Al Ahmed Al Sabah Highway, King Hamad Highway, Esteglal Highway, Moaskar  Highway, Avenue 15 and Refinery Avenue.

Once it is completed, the new junction at the Alba Roundabout will be the first in the country where one flyover passes above another. Both projects are being funded by Kuwait through money allocated for the $10-billion Gulf Development Fund, and are due to be completed by August 2018.

Alba and Nuwaidrat Intersections project (Sheikh Jaber Al Ahmed Al Sabah Avenue) is the largest road programme to be initiated under funds from the GCC. The project is being implemented under two packages. The first package for advance works comprises the clearance of all previously acquired land, as well as some minor utility corridor filling works; while the second package for the main works comprises the bridge works, including the two-level and three-level interchanges.

“The revamp is unique because the Alba junction will be one of the highest in elevation (in the country),” Works Ministry media and public relations director Fahad Buallay said.