Big crowd expected for Bahrain GP

Bahrain is in top gear to handle tens of thousands of fans and their families pouring into the country for the F1 festival. Police patrols have been beefed up, emergency services are at the ready and extra staff have been drafted in at the airport and causeway, to speed through fans arriving for the Bahrain Gulf Air Grand Prix.

More than 90,000 people are expected to attend the race and the festival of entertainment around it, over the three days. More than 300 police will control traffic to and from the three-day event, which starts tomorrow at the Bahrain International Circuit (BIC).

"They will be equipped with vehicles, motorbikes and cranes in the case of accidents," said a General Directorate of Traffic spokesman.

"An office will be set up in Sakhir to register any accidents and become the central point to direct efforts during the event.

"A team of traffic police has also been formed to work at the King Fahad Causeway, to facilitate the procedures for vehicles entering the country for the event."

Traffic police have mapped out routes to keep F1 traffic separate from the daily rush on Sunday, when traffic congestion is expected to surge.

The road from Awali roundabout to the BIC will be open only to people attending the race.

The Shaikh Khalifa bin Salman Highway traffic light junction at Roundabout 6 in Hamad Town will also be closed. Alternative roads for Hamad Town and Zallaq residents have been mapped out.

The roads from Riffa roundabout to Hamad Town, Zaid bin A'amira road to Zallaq and Hamad Town's Roundabout 13 to Zallaq will be open to regular traffic.

As fans leave the BIC car park after the Grand Prix on Sunday, all vehicles will be directed from the car park to Awali roundabout and the Shaikh Khalifa bin Salman Highway, to ease traffic flow, said the official.