18-05-2025
Muharraq-Bahrain Bay bridge and five major road projects set to begin
Five major road projects, including a new bridge between Muharraq and Bahrain Bay, are set to begin, the Works Minister, His Excellency Ebrahim Al Hawaj, has said.
The aim is to ease pressure on traffic and expand key highways by 2030.
Al Hawaj listed the projects as the widening of Al Budaiya Highway, Dry Dock Highway, and Shaikh Jaber Al Ahmad Al Sabah Highway, along with the construction of the Fourth Muharraq Bridge and a new flyover at Falcon Intersection.
Written reply
In a written reply to MP Mohammed Al Ahmed, he set out what each involves.
First is the road to Bahrain International Airport. A new bridge is planned at Falcon Intersection, linking northbound traffic from Shaikh Khalifa Al Kabeer Highway to the terminal.
Lanes
The second involves Al Budaiya Highway. It will be widened to three lanes in both directions. Four roundabouts will be removed and replaced with traffic lights. That alone is expected to raise capacity from 80,000 vehicles a day to 140,000.
Third is the Fourth Muharraq Bridge. It will connect Al Sayah and Bahrain Bay via a sea crossing.
A single lane will lead directly to Al Fateh Highway. There will also be a signalised junction at ground level.
The fourth project concerns Shaikh Jaber Al Ahmad Al Sabah Highway.
Crossings
The road will be widened from three to five lanes in each direction, with five multi-level crossings to be added.
The final project is Dry Dock Highway. It will be widened from three to four lanes between its junction with Shaikh Khalifa Bridge and the Investment Gateway.
Multi-level interchanges will also be built at key points.
Al Hawaj said three other large roadworks are already in progress, with a combined cost of BD34 million.
These are the Janabiya Intersection upgrade, the works at Isa Town North, and the first phase of the Rayya Highway project.
New flyover
At Janabiya, a new flyover is being built to carry left-turn traffic from Janabiya Highway onto Shaikh Isa bin Salman Highway.
It is expected to take up to 57,000 vehicles a day and reduce waiting times by around 70 per cent. Cost: BD10.13 million.
In Isa Town, a three-lane flyover is being constructed in both directions. Capacity is set to rise from 12,000 to 22,500 vehicles daily. Cost: BD22.3 million.
In Qalali, the first stretch of the Rayya Highway rebuild covers 1.2 kilometres from Avenue 13 to Avenue 50.
It is being turned into a dual carriageway with two lanes each way.
Capacity is expected to rise from 1,600 to 4,000 vehicles an hour. Cost: BD1.534 million.
The minister added that the ministry is continuing work on other infrastructure schemes.
These include laying sewage networks, paving unsealed roads, and road maintenance.
As for sewage services, he said priorities are based on factors such as building density, technical readiness, and coordination with service bodies and municipal councils.
A total of 105 sewage projects have been identified. Thirty-four are under way, serving 5,118 properties.
The remaining 71, covering 22,854 properties, will go ahead once design work is finished and tenders are issued.
