Kuwait traffic plan targets gridlock

07/09/2025

Vehicles inch forward in bumper-to-bumper traffic amid ongoing roadworks and patrol deployment

KUWAIT CITY, Sept 7: Head of the Central Control Division at the General Traffic Department, Lieutenant Colonel Ali Al-Qattan confirmed that the department has laid down a comprehensive plan for the deployment of patrols on the roads, coinciding with the return of teachers

In an interview on Al-Akhbar Channel, Al-Qattan revealed that the control room monitors traffic through 300 cameras installed in intersections and highways to detect traffic accidents or obstructions. He said the maintenance work is underway on the Fourth Ring Road -- from Road 55 to Ghazali Bridge. He urged drivers to take the alternative routes as follows: Ghazali Road, Jamal Abdel Nasser Road and Jahra Expressway. He added that traffic density in Sabah Al-Salem has started to decrease due to the opening of entrances and exits, unlike in previous years. Previously, the General Traffic Department announced the closure of Hussein Bin Ali Al-Rumi Road (Fourth Ring Road) towards Shuwaikh Industrial Area, starting from the overpass along Airport Road (55) to Ghazali Road (60), for a period of 45 days, starting last Friday. In a related development, the Ministry of Public Works announced the continuation of major road maintenance works under the new road contracts in 47 areas from Sept 7-11.

In a statement through the account of the Government Communication Center on the X platform, the ministry announced that the Public Authority for Roads and Transportation (PART) is carrying out maintenance works in 11 areas, including Abdally, Subiya and Salmi roads towards Kuwait City, Salmi from Kilometer 80 to Kilometer 85 towards the port, Fahaheel Al-Sahel Club intersection, Seventh Ring Road from Kilometer 21 to Kilometer 24 towards the South, King Faisal Road from the Sixth Ring Road intersection to the Fifth Ring Road intersection towards Kuwait City, Damascus Street from the Fifth Ring Road intersection to the Fourth Ring Road intersection, Fourth Ring Road from the Airport Road intersection to Ghazali Road intersection towards Jahra, Fahaheel Road opposite Al-Masail and Al-Funaitees, and Airport Road 55 opposite Farwaniya towards the airport. The ministry added that it is implementing road maintenance works in the six governorates covering 36 areas -- three in Jahra, 10 in Mubarak Al-Kabeer, nine in the Capital, four in Ahmadi, three in Hawally and seven in Farwaniya. On the other hand, the ministry revealed that Emergency Switchboard 150 handled 2,171 reports in August -- 1,878 reports from maintenance engineering, 121 reports from highway maintenance and 172 reports from sanitary engineering.

By Munif Naif and Mohammad Ghanem
Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff