A BOYS’ school located on a highway behind Bahrain International Airport will soon have a safety barrier installed to protect parents and children from speeding cars and avert tragedies.
Works Minister Ibrahim Al Hawaj told the Muharraq Municipal Council, in writing, that safety of children and residents was top priority and that work was delayed as underground power cables had to be removed before starting the project.
“We have already approved installation of barriers around the main gate of the Samaheej Primary and Intermediate School for Boys overlooking the Raya Highway, with work expected to be completed shortly,” he said.
Mr Al Hawaj added that the ministry had inspected the area following the council’s call for immediate action, and found that the open grounds posed a danger to students’ lives.
“Work on fencing the ground started in June,” Mr Al Hawaj pointed out. “Public safety, especially that of children and teenagers, is a priority.”
The first phase of the Raya Highway project, costing BD1,118,044, has been completed.
The 1.2km-long section between Arad Avenue and 13 Avenue has been revamped and traffic lights installed. A new diversion has also been set up, taking the traffic to a two-lane highway in both directions.
The minister earlier told Parliament that roadwork in the first, second and third phases would cost around BD9m. The highway passes through Busaiteen, Samaheej, Dair and Galali and into Arad.
Parliament’s legislative and legal affairs committee chairman and area MP Dr Hisham Al Asheeri said the area near Samaheej school ‘remains dangerous as reckless driving continues’.
“The main gate of the school has now been shifted to the backside and the existing one is only being used by faculty members to ensure less danger for children, but again, that’s not enough,” he said.
Municipal Council vice-chairman Saleh Buhazaa has already raised the issue with the ministry.
“The situation is frustrating and residents want immediate solution. Work on fencing is ongoing,” he said.
“It will be completed by the end of September.
“We wanted it before school started, but work was hampered by the electric cables.
“The next phase of revamp of the ‘death trap highway’ is also set to begin this month.”
Speed bumps on Raya 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 speed bumps now because it 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 in front of Samaheej Primary and Intermediate School for Boys.
“Children run around in the area and that is why we demanded fencing to protect them.”
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 bumps; it’s the nature of the road,” he claimed.
“Hopefully, the massive road expansion will help handle the influx of cars in the area.”
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