The General Traffic Department has directed the shutdown of the right and middle lanes of the Maghreb Expressway for drivers traveling from Kuwait City toward Ahmadi along with the First Ring Road exit leading onto Maghreb Road and the Maghreb Road exit toward the Second Ring Road. These restrictions begin on Sunday, July 26, 2026 and remain in force for one full month according to the department’s announcement. Motorists received advice to select alternative routes and observe all posted traffic directions throughout the closure to limit congestion on surrounding roadways. The department noted that compliance with detours would help maintain orderly movement during the period.
According to the department the scheduling coincides with peak summer conditions under which the Kuwait Meteorological Department has historically recorded average July highs surpassing 45 degrees Celsius with occasional spikes beyond 50 degrees. The announcement frames the work as a step toward mitigating both extreme temperatures and recurring bottlenecks on one of the capital’s primary north-south corridors. Officials highlighted the need for drivers to allow additional travel time and monitor updates from traffic authorities as the project advances.
The General Traffic Department has issued a series of comparable restrictions across Kuwait’s road network in recent months with similar one-month closures implemented on segments of Damascus Street and multiple ring-road intersections for resurfacing and safety upgrades. Data compiled by the department from prior maintenance cycles indicate that such targeted interventions have contributed to measurable reductions in incident rates once completed. The current Maghreb Expressway measures follow the same operational pattern of concentrating activity within a defined window to expedite completion while coordinating with overall network demands.
Kuwait’s expatriate population which the Public Authority for Civil Information places at approximately 3.3 million relies heavily on efficient arterial roads for daily commutes to employment centers in Ahmadi and southern governorates. The department’s latest directive therefore carries implications for both private vehicles and commercial traffic that routinely use the expressway. In its statement the authority urged early planning and adherence to detour signage to prevent secondary disruptions at nearby junctions during the peak summer travel season.
Further details on exact detour paths and on-site traffic management will be communicated through the department’s regular channels as the July 26 start date approaches. The General Traffic Department continues to coordinate such projects with other infrastructure bodies to align maintenance windows and minimize cumulative impact on public mobility. Updates issued by the authority will provide additional guidance for affected commuters over the coming weeks.
