A radical proposal to remove all 22 roundabouts in Hamad Town and replace them with free-flow junctions or traffic signals has been launched in a bid to tackle chronic congestion in Bahrain’s most densely populated residential area, described by expats as the ‘Milton Keynes of the Middle East’.
The proposal, spearheaded by western Hamad Town councillor Abdulla Al Qobaisi, is backed by Northern Municipal Council technical committee chairman and northern Hamad Town councillor Jassim Hejres, council information and public relations committee chairman and southern Hamad Town councillor Abdulla Ibrahim Al Thawadi, alongside eastern Hamad Town councillor Abdulla Shareeda Al Thawadi.
The councillors argue that the four-decade-old road layout can no longer cope with today’s traffic volumes in a town that is home to around 133,550 residents. Built in the 1980s and officially opened in 1984 as a planned residential community, Hamad Town has grown into one of Bahrain’s largest urban centres. Once home to just 29,000 people in 1991, it has expanded rapidly and today is represented by four MPs and four municipal councillors.
Mr Al Qobaisi said the town had effectively become a major traffic corridor for motorists travelling across the kingdom. “The traffic in Hamad Town is so unbearable that it causes massive bottlenecks stretching from Zallaq all the way towards the Diplomatic Area,” he told the GDN.
“When measures were introduced to ease congestion in the western villages around Zaid Bin Omaira Highway, traffic was redirected through Hamad Town and then onto Khalifa Bin Salman Highway.
“That is on top of Hamad Town’s own traffic, as well as vehicles coming from the Southern Governorate. Our roads simply were not designed to handle this volume.”
He said removing the town’s 22 ageing roundabouts would significantly improve traffic flow.
“These roundabouts are more than 40 years old,” he added. “Replacing them with free-flow intersections or modern traffic light-controlled junctions is the way forward. It is time to redesign the road network to match today’s reality rather than yesterday’s.”
Mr Hejres said the proposal was based on years of complaints from locals, expat residents and motorists frustrated by daily traffic delays.
“It’s horrendous at peak travel times,” said one British exptariate university employee. “It’s like driving around Milton Keynes!”
Milton Keynes is famously known as the UK’s ‘Roundabout City’. Designed in the 1960s with an innovative grid road system, it features 130 roundabouts.
It is suffering from similar Hamad Town challenges nowadays and has been considering introducing split ‘hamburger’ roundabouts, which have roads running through the centre of the islands, with traffic signals to help drivers navigate the new system.
It could be a cheaper solution for Bahrain planners to investigate. “Hamad Town has witnessed enormous population growth, while the road infrastructure has remained largely unchanged,” added Mr Hejres. “We believe modern engineering solutions can reduce congestion, improve road safety and shorten travel times without compromising access to residential areas.”
Mr Abdulla Ibrahim Al Thawadi said the proposal was intended to prepare the town for future growth rather than simply address existing congestion.
“Hamad Town is one of Bahrain’s busiest residential communities and deserves infrastructure that reflects its importance,” he said. “Our objective is to create a smoother and more efficient road network that benefits residents, visitors and emergency services alike.”
Mr Al Thawadi said traffic congestion had become one of the biggest concerns raised by constituents.
“Residents repeatedly tell us that traffic has become part of their daily struggle,” he said. “Improving traffic movement will enhance quality of life, reduce unnecessary delays and support businesses operating throughout Hamad Town. We believe the time has come for a comprehensive traffic study leading to practical solutions.”
The councillors are expected to formally submit the proposal for discussion with the relevant government authorities, calling for detailed engineering and traffic assessments before any redesign is undertaken.
If approved, the project would represent one of the most significant changes to Hamad Town’s road network since the community was established more than four decades ago.
It has been forwarded to Works Minister Ibrahim Al Hawaj for review.
mohammed@gdnmedia.bh
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