ROUNDABOUT BOTTLENECK SLOWS RUSH HOUR

Long commutes have become an exhausting daily reality for thousands of motorists navigating the Rusayl roundabout, one of Muscat’s most critical yet congested traffic junctions. During peak morning and afternoon hours, the area frequently grinds to a crawl, delaying office arrivals, business meetings and homeward journeys.
Serving as a major gateway linking Muscat to the interior via the Nizwa road and providing access to the Rusayl Industrial Estate, the roundabout also connects routes leading to Salalah, Suhar, Ruwi and a key defence headquarters.
Despite the recent installation of traffic signals to reduce accidents, the intersection continues to bear the brunt of heavy vehicular movement.
Motorists note that traffic congestion at Rusayl has moved beyond a transportation issue to become an economic, environmental and quality-of-life concern, with thousands of productive hours lost daily and increased vehicle emissions adding to environmental stress.
Ibtisam al Maamari, an employee at the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism (MoHT), described the situation as an 'everyday nightmare'. 'Expanding road networks alone is not a sustainable long-term solution; greater emphasis should be placed on smarter traffic management systems and reliable public transport alternatives,' she said.
Hafidh al Harthy of Sayyarati Rental pointed to the Rusayl-Bidbid Road Expansion Project, which includes additional lanes, flyovers and improved interchanges, as a potential game changer if completed swiftly. He also highlighted flexible working hours and smart traffic management as immediate measures.
Other commuters echoed calls for structural solutions. Juma al Balushi favoured the construction of flyovers to ease traffic flow, while journalist Hammam al Badi suggested introducing a metro system and prioritising public transport use. Zara, another journalist, proposed dedicated carpool lanes, employer-provided transport and affordable, efficient public transport to reduce reliance on private vehicles.