It’s been a while since I posted and there have been many developments. The area is one big mess, but if you look at the big picture, it’s getting there… I can’t wait for all the mud to go and the noise of the heavy trucks and builders.
Instead of taking lots of photos, I took a short drive around block 1 (and a tiny bit of 2) and speeded up the boring bits. I will repeat this when there is a visible difference to the area I filmed.
Less than a year from now, this will be a memory and we will have a town that looks as boring as any other town in Kuwait I can’t wait.
In case you’re wondering, the background music is Les Hooper’s ‘Muddy Road’.
A friend & neighbour posted these images on Facebook November 29th. I saw them yesterday and he kindly gave me permission to use them today. Thank you Moosa.
Local resident AbdulRahman sent me this article from Al Watan daily – published November 25th. The Minister of Works attended a local Diwaniya and discussed various matters about Mangaf’s development. These meetings are always good reminders to keep things moving. I was pleased to see that the issue of this bridge was brought up – as it’s been dead for over a year now.
A few months ago, I heard about a contract being discussed about fencing in the pipeline area in Mangaf. I have no idea if this is the start of it, nor about what the plan for the final look is.
Parallel to the development we’re having in phase 3, the footpaths are finally being put in place in the established areas. It’s nice to see the increase in the level of activity around us. Within the next year or so, Mangaf will have a much more complete look.
I’ve been watching these people since the day they started. I’m disappointed not to see space being left for trees! It seems we will get these horrible concrete paths (which is an improvement – yes) but I wish some green finds its way to us! God knows we need it.
This is our first new road. I took this shot on November 13th as it started to take shape. It will link the exit road off highway 30 to the middle (Fire Brigade) road. As sad as it sounds, I was excited to drive over it
Since the works began, there has been a lot of digging. It seems the smaller pipes are going in – I’m assuming these are the rainwater drains – in all the small roads. They dig, install and bury everything all in a couple of weeks. The main roads seem to take longer and the look more complicated. If anyone knows more, please add your comments below.
Abdul Rahman emailed me this letter last week to share with you. I hadn’t seen it before (perhaps it was during my summer holiday) so I’m grateful for receiving it. It looks like we need to give our opinion on what we want on the area between our outside walls and the proposed roads.
If you have any idea where we could send it – or even easier fax it – please let me know.
Thank you Abdul Rahman. Sorry it took a while to put it online…
It’s a very messy time for Mangaf. Loud diggers, dusty trucks and lots and lots of excavation. The clearing up continues and digging has started on the main routes for all the pipes. While I was away for the summer, I lost my beloved trees in front of our house… I wish they put the effort to work around them instead of taking them out… but I understand.
Regular reader Abdulrahman emailed me today to say things are about to start in front of his house. It will get much messier before it startss to take shape.
Good luck everyone and be careful of the deep excavation and heavy vehicles.
According to our Parliament Website, MP Salem Al Namlan has suggested a police station for Mangaf. This comes as the population density increases etc etc.
This is good. I believe the large Co-Op area currently under development – see here - will probably include the station.
The clearing has begun, and they were hard at work this morning moving excess sand from the major routes. It’s being dumped in the huge open area in Block 1.
With the works beginning around Mangaf to connect us to the road network, I thought I should capture a few shots of how life is today. People have created neighbourhoods, driveways and even gardens before any sign of planning. This relative feeling of stability is about to be disturbed for a while, with all the digging and construction, before leaving a clean finished look for the final phase of this town.
I came across this Facebook group for users of the Hilton in Mangaf. Whilst it doesn’t have much information of events, it does have a fun feel and there are many members. It hasn’t been updated for some time – but they may post some interesting news/information about the place.
It looks like something is about to finally happen. Saturday (we don’t know which one but possibly the day after tomorrow) this ‘road’ will be closed. It’s the main entrance to Mangaf from the North at the exit from the highway.
A gentleman named Bu Nawaf called Scope TV yesterday (I just saw the repeat) and warned about Mangaf. I fully agree with him when he talked about the many rental apartments in the middle of residential areas. The particular example he gave is in front of my house. I wouldn’t mind it so much if families move in – even with the traffic/parking problems. But what if it becomes a camp?!
He offered to take Scope around the area to show them the shops in Aziziya – which he compared to Khaitan and Jileeb. I think it will become better with the new co-op there. I hope!
I’m very pleased to hear someone caring about the area and warning about potential problems – seeking change.
Bu Nawaf – if there is anything I can do to help, please email me.
I am pleased to announce that work will begin on a 20-month contract for the drain/sanitary lines and roads in Blocks 1 and 2 in Mangaf. They have started the measuring and digging will commence May 1st.
These men from the compny doing the work were working an hour ago on sight.
Two years from now, this will be Mangaf’s new CoOp. It looks like it will be a huge project, and judging by the 7m KD it’s costing – I hope it will look nice too. I will try to get more details. Please comment if you have any information.
They were digging the foundations yesterday. Two years from today in shaa Allah.
I found this document on the Parliament’s website. According to the minutes of meeting for Kuwait’s plan, Mangaf’s roads are planned to start (tendering etc which we have already seen) in 2008 and complete by 2011.
They updated this finally and I would guess this image was captured in April 2008. My main clue is that the foundations for the new orange houses (in block 1) are being dug in this photo, and that’s when it all started.
I promised an update almost two years ago… I didn’t expect it would take this long.
I will work on getting the next one and hope it will have new roads on it
A whole new neighborhood is about to be born. Before long, there will be families, children, pets, a few weirdoes, security guards, maids, car washers, loafers and maybe some nice people moving in. They’ve worked on this site a few months now and it looks almost complete. The outside wall was being painted this morning.
The colour looks better in real life. The finishing is to a high quality considering they’re obviously been built for the rent market. The thing that worries me (apart from the weirdos) is the number of cars this will be coming to this quiet area. I first thought this long row was going to be houses. I went inside today and most, if not all, are flats! With an average two cars per flat, the road will probably only be open part-time. The rest of the time it will be reserved parking
I posted about the roads tender back in July and I’ve been following up the “progress” – very slow progress – on the government website and construction news. If you add all the information together, it gives an answer of early 2009 for the commencement of works.
I was talking to a neighbour last week and he knows someone in the Ministry of Works. His information suggests February 2009. Usually, I wouldn’t have bothered to post this, but the fact that it agrees with the tender closing dates, and generally the amount of time it would take to evaluate and select, it sounds about right to me.
I will of course write once I have confrimation. If any reader has more information, please add your comments.
I’m patient but this is really statring to get to me. Even the daily newspaper, Al Qabas, has featured our mess in Blocks 1 and 2. In fact, ther did it twice in the past few days. It’s embarrassing.
After months of NOISE, dust and many other problems, associated with any large building site, I am finally able to share these photographs. It’s a number of houses ready to hit the rent market here in Mangaf. My guess is some time in December. They’re located in Block 1 left after the petrol station.
I wish the owner was responsible for the roads in this area. The pace of work was at times scary. The speed and the number of men on the site are beyond the need of any project of this size. I was thankful however, as it meant a relatively shorter period of concrete mixers and builders right in front of my face. Every day including Fridays starting as early as 5am since April!
February
April
June
Later in June
July
October
It’s not to my taste, but at least I’m able to say it’s not ugly. They are putting the finishing touches on paint outside and in. It won’t be long before they’re hooked up to the grid and are illuminating our street. All this aside, I pray for good neighbors - now that the neighborhood has been completed.
I can’t wait.
