His Majesty King Abdullah on Tuesday visited the Greater Amman Municipality (GAM) where he was briefed on the municipality's 2006-2010 strategic plan.

The King commended GAM's achievements particularly as Amman expanding rapidly and witnessing many large-scale investments.

Amman Mayor Nidal Hadid told the King the strategy includes plans for traffic and environment management, as well as cultural activities to liven up the capital and bring the community in touch with City Hall.

GAM is also currently working with the World Bank on the Cities Development Programme to overhaul Amman's “outdated” master plan.

A primary objective is to build and maintain a safe, efficient and comfortable transportation network.

The plan calls for annual asphalting of over 7.5 million square metres of roads at a cost of JD18 million.

The plan targets the completion of the “inner-ring road,” as work progresses on the construction of Prince Hashem Street and the Abdoun Bridge, and work on the Fourth Circle intersection will begin after Ramadan.

In August, the municipality announced it would install an automated traffic signal control system at 32 intersections of the city.

Meanwhile, a current study of the traffic situation is under way in order to develop a model for Amman's road network for the next 20 years.

The study is expected to identify priorities for implementing traffic improvements on major intersections. GAM already has completed construction or renovations on all 22 intersections recommended by a 1999 traffic study. Plans are set for another 25 intersection projects in the next five years.

GAM also plans to develop a minimum of 10 public parks each year throughout the strategy. Such projects are being undertaken by the Amman Beautification Committee, created in February 2005.

The Jordan Times
By Mahmoud Al Abed