Eng. Essam bin Abdullah Khalaf, Minister of Works, Municipalities Affairs and Urban Planning, and Engineer Bassem bin Yaqoub Al-Hamar, Minister of Housing, witnessed the inauguration of traffic signals at pedestrian crossing intersections in Salman City, in the presence of His Excellency Deputy Fatima Al-Qatari, Representative Abdullah Al-Dossary, Chairman of the Municipal Council of the Northern Governorate Ahmed Al-Kooheji and Municipal Member Muhammad Saad Al-Dossari, the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Works, Ahmed Abdel Aziz Al-Khayyat, the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Housing, Sheikh Khalid bin Hamoud Al Khalifa, and a number of senior officials in the two ministries.
On the sidelines of the opening, His Excellency Engineer Basem bin Yaqoub Al-Hamr, Minister of Housing, stated that the launch of pedestrian traffic lights in the main and secondary streets in Salman City coincides with the increase in traffic density in the city as a result of the opening and housing of the first stages in it, as well as the increase in the rates of visitors to the city wishing to take advantage of the facilities The public provided by the city from coasts, sea fronts and public beaches, and the use of paths designated for hiking and cycling sports, pointing to the importance of the step of operating pedestrian crossing signals to ensure the safety of residents and visitors.
The minister said that the number of pedestrian traffic lights serving the first phase in the city is 30, 4 of which represent the main signals of the main road, which connects the current complexes of the city and consists of 4 traffic lanes, while the city provides 25 traffic lights for the secondary road signs in the residential complexes, which consist of Two traffic lanes.
Engineer Al-Hamar pointed out that the first phase of the city also provides 68 pilot flash poles for pedestrian crossing areas and bicycle lanes to regulate traffic, indicating that this technology is being applied for the first time in new Bahrain cities, and it aims to attract the attention of vehicle drivers before reaching transit areas. Pedestrians, noting that turning on the new flashing signals would control traffic movement and prevent overtakes.
For his part, His Excellency Eng. Essam Khalaf said that the Ministry of Works has supervised the installation and operation of pedestrian signals from the design stage until operation in accordance with the quality and standards followed in the Kingdom of Bahrain. These signals have also been tested and operated, and these light signals aim to raise the level of traffic safety in the city in order to preserve The safety of road users, whether they live or go by, and the Ministry has previously operated 12 traffic lights for the main roads aimed at facilitating the flow of traffic in the area.
The Minister of Housing thanked the Ministerial Committee for Development and Infrastructure Projects headed by His Excellency Sheikh Khalid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa, Deputy Prime Minister, for his support and interest in providing facilities and services in the new Bahrain cities in general, and Salman City in particular, especially the topics related to Traffic safety has received attention from the earliest stages of city planning.
The Minister of Housing also appreciated the efforts of the Ministry of Works, Municipalities and Urban Planning and its continuous cooperation with the Ministry of Housing, and its keenness to joint coordination in all related issues, especially those related to the operation and processing of new Bahrain cities projects and other housing projects in various governorates of the Kingdom.
Eng. Al-Hammar praised the efforts of the General Traffic Department and the distinguished efforts it undertook in monitoring the traffic flow in the Kingdom, and the cooperation it showed with the Ministry in the relevant issues.
