A BOYS’ school located on a ‘death trap’ highway behind Bahrain International Airport will be getting a much-needed pedestrian fencing to protect students, parents and faculty from speeding drivers.
Works, Municipalities Affairs and Urban Planning Minister Essam Khalaf told the Muharraq Municipal Council in writing that he has already signed off on work to install barriers around the main gate area of the Samaheej Primary and Intermediate School for Boys overlooking Raya highway.
He added that following the council’s proposal to take immediate action, an urgent inspection by the ministry found that students were in danger.
“Ministry officials are closely following the situation with relevant authorities to ensure that students’ lives are not put in danger in any way,” said Mr Khalaf.
“This comes in parallel with plans to install barriers in front of the school’s main gate, in co-ordination with other concerned ministries and government bodies.
“Public safety, especially that of children and teenagers, is a priority.”
Work on the first phase of roadwork on the highway is set for completion by the third quarter of this year.
The first phase cost BD1,118,044 and under the deal, the 1.2km-long section between Arad Avenue and 13 Avenue will be revamped and traffic lights installed. A new diversion will also be set up, taking the traffic to a new two-lane highway in both directions.
The minister earlier told Parliament that roadwork in the first, second and third phases would cost around BD9 million.
The highway passes by Busaiteen, Samaheej, Dair and Galali and into Arad.
Speed bumps on the highway were removed less than six months after being installed in 2019.
It followed a petition by 189 residents against the road safety measures, which were originally put in place after a spate of serious accidents.
Residents complained that too many speed bumps contributed to massive traffic jams.
The highway’s 28 speed bumps were cut down to 10.
“We don’t want to return back to speed bumps because it just contributed to accidents between people trying to cut a tailback of cars in both directions,” said the council’s services and public utilities committee chairman Fadhel Al Oud, who represents Dair and Samaheej.
“To save time, reckless drivers just get off the road and use the open space,” he added.
“Unfortunately, the biggest open space is in front of the Samaheej Primary and Intermediate School for Boys.
“That is why we demanded the fencing, as a barrier to protect the students.”
He added that the highway has been, and continues to be, a death trap.
“Statistics show that serious accidents have remained at the same rate for the past 12 years, despite the speed; it’s the nature of the road.
“Hopefully, the massive road expansion will help handle an influx of cars in the area.”
Council chairman Ghazi Al Murbati has already raised the issue with the ministry.
“The situation is frustrating and residents want an immediate solution. The fencing should be installed in front of the school immediately.”
mohammed@gdn.com.bh
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