Feb. 15 will mark the “rebirth” of the Second Circle in Jabal Amman with a new “green” look, offering citizens and drivers on the busy streets of the capital a pleasant sight as well as a place to sit.
Implemented by the Greater Amman Municipality (GAM) and the Amman Chamber of Industry (ACI), the Second Circle project includes renovation and maintenance work on the site, estimated at JD30,000. Zahran District GAM Director Iman Maaytah told The Jordan Times that preparations and coordination with the ACI to implement the project started in June last year, and the actual work commenced on Dec. 18.
She said maintenance work was recently carried out from the sixth to the third circles, adding that the work would proceed to the First Circle soon as part of GAM’s efforts to add aesthetic touches to various important locations in the capital.
Source: [The Jordan Times]
Well, I hope they don’t mess it up, as it already looks rough. It really is one of my favourite places in Jordan. Why couldn’t they just leave it intact! UFF!
I sort of agree with Karen. The circles are alright when they’re in residency areas like Jabal Amman, but when they are used to control traffic in busy areas, such as Dowar Il Madeeneh and Dowar Il-Da’7eleyeh, it’s just complete chaos. They tried to make it less chaotic by building tunnels and bridges over or under the busy circles, but really, circles are a stupid system. The best thing they did was replace the 4th circle with streetlights. Was there ever a circle there anyhow…?
Linda,
If you don’t have a Jordanian driving license – then you can use your American one but you can only drive rented cars.
Driving around the circle is a challenge, but of course it is free for all. The greater Amman Municipality is trying its best to make Jordan green, and that’s what they are trying to do with this particular circular.
Somebody sent a letter to the Jordan Times complaining about the existence of circles in Jordan. Thought it might be relevant. Take a look.
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Round and round
Yes, the second circle definitely needs “beautification”, but after a recent trip to Muscat, Oman, perhaps elimination is the answer.
In Muscat, not only does traffic depend on circles (or roundabouts) it actually works!
I’m not too sure how the Omanis acquired the expertise of negotiating traffic circles, but they are faultless. On their main highway, which runs between the airport and the city, traffic moves at speeds of 100, 110km per hour. When they approach a roundabout, all drivers come to a complete stop and calmly wait their turn to enter. I observed no cars pushing their way, entering the circles out of turn such as the drivers do in Jordan, resulting in absolute chaos.
Why does it work in Oman, but is a total failure in Jordan? Are their driving instructors better than ours? Are their laws more strictly enforced? Are the Omanis more disciplined?
What is obvious is that the rules about the usage of circles in Jordan are either unknown or they are totally ignored.
The solution would be to eliminate all traffic circles and put in traffic lights instead, to educate all Jordanian drivers in the proper usage of circles or send the driving population to Oman so that they can learn how traffic circles should really work.
Karen Asfour,
Amman
the circle does not look green to me. i dont get it. do people just drive around them or something. why are there not any lines to distingusih wich way you can drive around the circle? is it a free for all? will i be able to drive in Jordan when i visit it in the summer?
Here is my question, are there any plans to remove the 2nd circle off of the maps and replace it with a couple of tunnels and bridges? Otherwise, this is just a waste of money.
But I agree, Amman needs more green gardens, as long as the definition of “garden” is not “hadaeq al malik abdallah” and of “green” is not a green billboard that says “allah alwatan almalik”
And…نحو اردن اخضر عام 2000 (towards a green Jordan by the year 2000)
Having lived just around the corner in Weibdeh from 2nd Circle for nearly three years, I spent many an afternoon driving ’round it on my way to Haboob or Books and many an evening watching it as I waited for those Reem boys to fill my belly. This is one ugly circle and a perfect example of the “too much cement syndrom” from which Amman unfortunately suffers. In that time I only saw that odd little stair step fountain working twice, always thinking to myself: “Why is one of the most water poor nations on earth running a fountain? What kind of message does that send?”
Well, admittedly, the water was nice those two times. I’m all for some greenery, though. And I have to say GAM (Greater Amman Municipality) has impressed me with some of the parks and such they’ve put up so I’ve got some hope they’ll do something nice. I’m more curious to see the changes they have in store for 1st circle. It’s mighty small. There’s just a cement bird bath in the middle now isn’t there?
Wendy, don’t get me started on those apartment buildings. They are mushrooming all over the place and they are just hideous!
I don’t think they’ll mess it up, maybe they’ll just turn it into a square 🙂
Amman needs more green places…have you all already blogged about urban planning that doesn’t include any parks, trees, or spaces between buildings where trees could grow? Our house is now surrounded by 5 storey apartment buildings, it feels like living in a fishbowl.
oh i was wondering what was up with that… cool 🙂 i think change is always good, as long as they dont place a terribly ugly piece of art like the one on the 7th circle.