A PROPOSAL to build more pedestrian bridges in accident-prone zones in the country has been submitted amidst a safety alert.
MPs and municipal councillors have also urged the government to carry out maintenance work on all existing bridges.
The GDN had reported that 28 pedestrians were killed and 341 were injured in different accidents in 2019. Thirty-six cyclists also sustained injuries during the same year.
Parliament’s services committee chairman Ahmed Al Ansari claimed that majority of the accidents took place in the Southern Governorate.
He told councillors and guests at the Southern Municipal Council weekly majlis yesterday that the governorate alone needed four bridges.
He suggested a bridge between the Educational District in Isa Town and the shopping district in Zayed Town and another linking the two sides of East Riffa near Kung Fu Restaurant.
“We also need a footbridge connecting Enmaa Mall in East Riffa and the nearby residential areas, and one linking Al Abraaj in Hejayat and Ziebart in Nuwaidrat,” said Mr Al Ansari, who is the council’s former chairman.
“Most of those crossing roads are expatriates, mainly low-income workers, who are unfortunately risking their lives in the process.
“I don’t have recent statistics to show how many Bahrainis or expatriates were killed or hurt while crossing roads. But there have been accidents and we need to address it.
“Constructing new pedestrian bridges is the easiest solution to the issue, but as in the past, funding is a problem.
“Insurance or telecom companies can step in and fund the new bridges in a bid to save lives.”
In 2018 bridges in Isa Town, East Riffa, Arad and Manama were closed down for maintenance. It followed concerns over the safety and structural stability of the bridges when the responsibility of maintenance was transferred from the municipalities’ affairs department to the bridges department within the ministry.
“Maintenance has not been carried out or else why would the elevators be out of service?” questioned Mr Al Ansari.
“There are no follow-ups and there have been complaints that the elderly and those with disabilities have to be driven from Isa Town to Al Estiqlal Walkway because the elevator on the bridge is not functional.
“Elevators are installed to help the disabled and the elderly to live their lives normally without help from others.”
Councillor Omar Abdulrahman stressed the need to fast-track maintenance work on bridges across the country.
“Drivers often speed through Al Estiqlal Highway, especially the area between Al Abraaj and Ziebart, and unfortunately pedestrians mainly expatriates cross the road back and forth,” he said.
“Deaths and serious injuries have occurred in the past and we shouldn’t wait for more tragedies before taking action.
“The country needs more pedestrian bridges and it is not public responsibility to find funding, that should be arranged by the government.”
The proposal will be referred to the Interior, and Works, Municipalities Affairs and Urban Planning Ministries for review since Parliament’s four-year term ended this week.
mohammed@gdn.com.bh
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