Bahrain’s Works Ministry has unveiled a road development plan which includes the renovation, revamp and expansion of key junctions, and the building of new main highways to connect all parts of the country.

Works Ministry roads adviser Abdul Nabi Abdulla Al Sabah told Gulf Daily News: "Among the new projects currently being planned are an interchange on Shaikh Khalifa bin Salman Highway and a corridor connecting the upcoming Northern Town."

The corridor will be built near the Burgerland Roundabout in Budaiya and a consultant will soon be appointed to develop a detailed design of the project. Other new projects are earmarked in Manama, where the Manama Ring Road will be built to link the Al Farooq Junction (formerly the GCC Roundabout) to the North Manama Causeway.

In addition, the Juffair Orbital Ring Road project is planned, as well as a new interchange at the Salmabad crossing on Shaikh Salman Highway, which is currently in the design stage. The plan also includes the construction of several other interchange projects, linking the Umm Al Hassam Interchange, the Mina Salman Interchange and Khalifa Bin Salman Port.

The Mina Salman Interchange project is expected to ensure an uninterrupted flow of traffic between King Fahad Causeway and the new Shaikh Khalifa bin Salman Port once it is complete. Additionally, there will be an interchange at the Mina Salman junction, which forms part of a ‘strategic roads master plan’ aimed at improving traffic in the area. The Mina Salman project also involves the building of underpasses at the Al Najma Club crossing, the Juffair crossing and the Diplomatic Area crossroads, allowing for direct access from the Khalifa Bin Salman Port and the Northern Town.

The nationwide development has already seen the completion of the Alba and Nuwaidrat interchanges to ease traffic flow at the Bahrain-Qatar Causeway. Bahrain also plans to reorganise the Dry Dock crossing and build underpasses as well as flyovers to ensure an uninterrupted flow of traffic to the port.