In preparation for the new academic year which began Sunday, the Public Works Authority (Ashghal) completed improving the traffic safety of roads surrounding 546 out of 623 schools in various areas across the country. The development works were part of Ashghal’s School Zone Safety Programme.
Ashghal, according to an official statement, is coordinating with the Ministry of Interior (MoI) and the National Road Safety Committee to identify schools in need of development based on a study conducted by the Ministry of Education and Higher Education (MoEHE). This plan aims to ensure the safety of students, teachers, and parents entering or exiting the school buildings.
Additionally, safety plans are being implemented around 48 schools, three others’ safety features are still under design while 26 schools are scheduled for construction. Ashghal started implementing the School Zone Safety Programme in 2013 while covering 10 schools. It grew to encompass up to 623 schools in 2023 in line with the National Road Safety Strategy.
Engineer Ahmed Rashid al-Kubaisi said Ashghal continues to implement a comprehensive and continuous plan yearly, in accordance with international standards to ensure and enhance traffic safety around school areas, increasing the number of schools included in the plan in coordination with the entities concerned.
The plan aims to reduce traffic congestion around schools, separate pedestrian movement from vehicular traffic, improve unpaved temporary roads, ensure pedestrian safety around schools, and improve traffic flow.
“The works carried out by Ashghal's Road Operations and Maintenance Department team include the construction and development of roads with the highest safety standards, by providing vehicle parking areas, constructing central islands and mini roundabouts to regulate traffic flow in these areas, in addition to the installation of sufficient number of directional signs, road signs, and road markings which are placed near schools to alert drivers to the presence of a school in the vicinity and to set the maximum speed limit to 30km per hour,” al-Kubaisi said.
Industrial speed bumps with specific specifications are constructed to reduce speed, provide safe pedestrian and special needs crossings, which are upgraded and maintenance at school entrances and exits.
In order to ensure safe entrances for schools located on main streets, clear and non-smooth coloured asphalt strips are installed to alert drivers when entering or leaving the school area, along with clear warning signs on roads leading to the schools.
The comprehensive development works in the areas surrounding each school take approximately three months. Ashghal collaborates with the school administrations concerned to identify safety requirements in these areas before finalising the designs and commencing the implementation phase. As for schools under construction, all safety elements of surrounding roads are taken into consideration.
Engineer Ahmed Rashid al-Kubaisi
