The General Traffic Department at the Ministry of Interior announced the complete closure of Omar Bin Al-Khattab Street in the Mirqab area including all entrances and exits connecting to Al-Sour Street to facilitate necessary roadworks. The same statement detailed the shutdown of the entrance and exit from Al-Sour Street onto Abdullah Al-Mubarak Street which had been in effect since Wednesday. Officials called on drivers to select alternative paths in advance to limit congestion in the central commercial zone.
Temporary restrictions will also apply to the slow and middle lanes of Jassim Mohammed Al-Kharafi Road which is known locally as the Sixth Ring Road opposite the Martyrs area while traveling toward Jahra. The closure extends to the exit from King Fahd Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud Road that feeds directly onto the Sixth Ring Road during the affected period. These adjustments according to the department will support essential maintenance while seeking to preserve broader traffic movement where feasible.
All closures and lane restrictions are scheduled to run from Friday August 28 until Sunday August 30 the General Traffic Department statement specified. The authority stressed the importance of heeding diversion signs and maintaining vigilance in the vicinity of the worksites throughout the three-day window. Such coordinated notifications form a standard channel the Ministry of Interior uses to inform the public of short-term traffic changes.
The latest measures fit within an extensive road maintenance initiative led by the Ministry of Public Works across Kuwait’s six governorates. That ministry signed 18 major contracts in late 2025 valued at nearly KD 400 million to address aging infrastructure and improve overall road quality according to ministry records. Projects under these agreements include comprehensive repairs to both highways and internal streets with a focus on the most deteriorated segments first.
A ministry spokesperson has noted in prior briefings that all road closures result from joint decisions with the General Traffic Department to account for critical services such as emergency response and school schedules. The program also incorporates rainwater drainage upgrades street lighting and telecommunications infrastructure alongside paving work. Each contract carries a 10-year warranty on the base layer to extend the lifespan of the repaired sections and reduce repeat interventions.
Motorists facing disruptions are advised to consider parallel routes including segments of the Fifth and Seventh Ring Roads where capacity permits the department added. Similar temporary closures have occurred on the Fourth Ring Road and various local streets in recent months as part of the same maintenance wave. The Public Authority for Roads and Transportation continues to supervise implementation while coordinating with traffic police to minimize public inconvenience.
