Repeated roadworks leaving neighbourhood streets scarred and uneven have come under the spotlight, with municipal councillors unanimously backing a proposal to ensure roads are fully restored after excavation works.
The Southern Municipal Council has made a call yesterday for the complete restoration of internal roads once service authorities conclude digging works, so that streets are returned to their original condition.
The proposal was presented by councillor Mohammed Darraj and has now been referred to Works Minister Ibrahim Al Hawaj for review.
Residents across Bahrain have long complained about recurring excavation works carried out by various service providers, only for temporary patchwork repairs to follow, sometimes leaving roads uneven, cracked and prone to subsidence.
Mr Darraj said the proposal was aimed at protecting infrastructure quality and preventing long-term damage. “Citizens constantly raise concerns about repeated digging in the same areas, and unfortunately the restoration is often limited to basic patching,” he said.
“Our recommendation is clear: once excavation works are completed, internal roads must be fully restored to their original state. This will preserve public safety, improve road quality and reduce the need for further maintenance.”
He stressed that co-ordinated planning between service entities would also help minimise repeated disruption to residents.
Council chairman Abdulla Abdullatif said there were generally no concerns when projects were directly supervised by the Works Ministry.
“We do not face issues when the Works Ministry oversees contractual work, because there is proper supervision and standards are applied,” he said.
“However, it appears that the problem arises when other agencies such as the Electricity and Water Authority or the Transportation and Telecommunications Ministry assign contractors to carry out work.”
He pointed to inconsistent restoration practices as the main source of frustration for residents.
“The road is never returned to its original state,” Mr Abdullatif claimed. “Instead, we see patchwork solutions that may hold temporarily, but eventually lead to surface damage, uneven asphalt and a decline in overall road quality.”
Councillors said that beyond aesthetics, poorly restored roads could pose safety risks to motorists and pedestrians, as well as an increase to vehicle maintenance costs.
The approved recommendation calls for stricter oversight and co-ordination to ensure that once utility or infrastructure works are completed, roads are repaired comprehensively rather than partially patched.
Mr Abdullatif said the council would follow up closely with the relevant authorities to ensure the proposal translates into practical improvements on the ground.
“Our goal is to protect public assets and ensure that residents are not inconvenienced by recurring works that leave lasting damage,” he said.
With rapid development and infrastructure expansion continuing across Bahrain, councillors stressed that preserving road quality must go hand-in-hand with service upgrades – so progress does not come at the expense of long-term durability.
If implemented, the measure could mark a significant step towards ending the cycle of dig-and-patch works that have become a common source of complaint in many neighbourhoods.
mohammed@gdnmedia.bh
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