Booming business activity along King Faisal Highway is turning one of Bahrain’s busiest commercial stretches into a daily traffic headache, with motorists struggling to navigate congestion and hunt for scarce parking spaces, according to members of the Capital Trustees Board.
From the bustling Old Manama Suq and major government ministries to the ever-crowded The Avenues Bahrain, Bahrain Financial Harbour and City Centre Bahrain, the highway has become a magnet for shoppers, tourists, office workers and families from across the GCC.
The area is also home to the popular Kids Kingdom play area and is expected to become even busier with plans for a revamped corniche near Villamar.
Recognising the mounting pressure on the vital artery, the Cabinet recently approved borrowing funds from the Islamic Development Bank to finance major roadwork developments, including a planned underpass on King Faisal Highway aimed at easing congestion.
The increase in traffic is positive after the recent Iranian aggression but the counterside to success offers its own challenges. Capital Trustees Board member Dr Bashar Ahmedi said the surge in commercial activity was proof of Bahrain’s thriving economy, but admitted the strain on infrastructure was becoming impossible to ignore.
“The Avenues Bahrain alone attracts massive crowds every single day, with vehicles arriving from all over Bahrain and the GCC,” Dr Ahmedi told the GDN. “People come to dine, shop or simply sit at cafés overlooking the waterfront, and all of that traffic flows through King Faisal Highway.”
He said parking shortages had become one of the biggest frustrations facing visitors.
“Finding a car park at The Avenues Bahrain once again has become increasingly difficult, especially during weekends and holidays,” he said. “This is compounded by the presence of ministries, offices, Bahrain Financial Harbour, Bahrain Bay and other active establishments on the same stretch and opposite direction.”
Dr Ahmedi described the congestion as ‘the price of a booming market’ but stressed that urgent solutions were needed before the situation worsened further.
“For now, temporary measures such as opening additional parking areas and using golf carts to transport visitors can help ease the pressure,” he said. “But in the long term, we need major roadworks and integrated parking solutions linked directly to the highway.”
Capital Trustees Board vice-chairwoman Dr Khulood Al Qattan echoed the concerns, saying the rapid commercial growth along the highway had naturally led to mounting traffic and parking challenges.
“The entire King Faisal Highway area is booming with business and investment,” Dr Al Qattan said. “That means heavy traffic and parking shortages are inevitable, particularly with the increasing influx of visitors from across Bahrain, GCC countries and tourists from around the world.”
However, she stressed that immediate action was necessary to maintain the attractiveness of the capital and ensure smoother access to commercial destinations, so suggestions would be welcomed.
“We need practical and urgent fixes while waiting for large-scale infrastructure projects to be completed,” she added. “Bahrain is becoming a stronger regional destination for shopping, entertainment and tourism, and our infrastructure must keep pace with that success.”
mohammed@gdnmedia.bh
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