Driving ahead with project

MOTORISTS were faced with a new maze of redirections at junctions converging around Isa Town Gate as work on the three-level interchange and flyover project once more gained momentum.

The road works were set to be completed in July at a cost of BD43 million but stalled after officials pulled out of a deal with South Korean contractor Sungwon Corporation. That conflict is now the subject of court proceedings.

Nass Contracting was awarded a contract to finish the task and in May took up the challenge of completing the underpass and flyover structures. The previous contractor had completed 40 per cent of the work, according to the Ministry of Works.

"The new western viaduct and underpass will be completed within 12 months - by May 2011 - with all the remaining works undertaken and the new interchange opened by October 2011," a spokesman said.

During peak hours, the Isa Town Gate intersection handles around 6,000 cars per hour but much less during the summer when all the schools in the area are closed.

Hyder Consulting Middle East are continuing as the 'engineer' for the project; supervising the ongoing construction works.

Around 800 workers have been deployed by Nass Contracting, including local female staff often seen on site as part of operation teams who are typically involved in design, quantity surveying, planning and co-ordination.

"Technically, the precast segmental viaduct and pull-down anchor works are some of the newer technologies and innovations being introduced into Bahrain," the spokesman explained.

"Construction challenges include the proximity to live services, necessity to adopt proper sequence in construction and managing the high volumes of traffic through a complex and strategic section of the road network in Bahrain.

"Necessary protection treatments to underground pipelines and cables are being regularly discussed with the respective statutory services owners.

"It should be noted that there is always the possibility of unforeseen buried items which in their nature are unpredictable.

"The progress to date has been satisfactory. It is quite apparent the summer timing restrictions and Ramadan conditions do restrict working hours.

"However, as these are prevailing statutory regulations, the contractor's programme recognises and allows for them.

"This strategic improvement scheme is being constructed to provide the enhancements necessary to accommodate for present and future traffic volumes.

"As such the traffic management arrangements in place during the construction period do have to deal with all the demands of the existing traffic movements, which are naturally greater during school term time.

"However, it is key to the delivery of this project that the disruption to traffic is minimised wherever possible.

"We also endeavour to complete the project within the least time possible to minimise the overall impact on the local residents, road users and general travelling public."

It 'should be expected,' he added, that with the change of contractor, the ministry felt was needed to successfully deliver the project, the total capital cost for the overall scheme 'may vary'.

The ministry, in co-operation with the General Directorate of Traffic of the Ministry of the Interior, said that the latest construction work has necessitated converting the roundabout to temporary signalised junctions.

"We take this opportunity to request all drivers to strictly adhere to road signs and traffic signals in the area to ensure their and others' safety," a spokesman said.