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Removal of 7th Circle roundabout preoccupies Twitter users

By Mohammad Ghazal - Apr 12,2014 - Last updated at Apr 12,2014

AMMAN — With no other pressing matters to tackle; the removal of the 7th Circle roundabout and its replacement with traffic lights has become a top trending issue preoccupying Twitter users in Jordan.

The issue has split users, with comments varying from the serious and comical, to the ridiculous.

Those in favour of the changes say that traffic is often brought to a standstill by whimsical traffic police personnel and motorists' lack of respect for regulations.

They believe that having traffic lights instead of the circle would better regulate traffic as there won't be an element of human interference.

Those against the changes cited nostalgic reasons for their disapproval, commenting that the removal of the 7th Circle, which previously had the sculpture of an 11.5-metre high book, deliberately seeks to eradicate the "culture and history of Amman".

"This decision is not supported by studies. It is a shame that the circle and the statue on it are removed," tweeted Saed Haddadin.

Bayan (@Bayan ‏@Bayouneh) agreed.

"I was… saddened by the news of the removal of the monument on the 7th Circle. I did not like what happened at all."

"I feel sad about the removal of the best work of art in Amman's streets," Razan Nour ‏(@RazanNour) lamented. Several Twitter users posted pictures and comments that Ammanites rushed to take selfies with the sculpture before it was removed.

These kinds of responses prompted a Twitter user to quip: "Why are you people showing lots of sympathy for the removal of the 7th Circle. You made me feel it is Petra [One of the Seven Wonders of the world] that is being removed not a circle," tweeted Ali Abul Ezz (‏@ali_abualezz). 

The sculpture was installed in 2002 when Amman was nominated Cultural Capital of the Arab World. 

At the time, its designer, Syrian sculptor Rabi Akhras, told The Jordan Times that the structure "reflects people's struggles over the years for education and their love of books".

Other tweeps commended the removal of the circle as a good move.

"Regulating traffic with traffic lights is better than the appearance of the circle," tweeted Ziad Ababneh (@ZiadAbabneh).

"I think this is one of the best decisions taken by the Greater Amman Municipality. The circle caused traffic jams," said Fahed Farawati ‏(@fahed159).

Wassim Al Hammouri ‏(@WHammouri) agreed. "From now on, we [motorists] will not be governed by the mood of traffic police regulating the traffic on the circle."

Saja Khaled (@sajaesmail), echoed similar thoughts: "Having traffic lights is much better than a circle, which occupied half of the street."

Sawsan Al Barghouthy ‏(@SawsanSouz) was more forthright.

"Glad they removed the Seventh Circle's sculpture… A part of the daily visual pollution is gone."

On the other hand, some Twitter users disagreed that the installation of traffic lights would improve the daily congestion at the location.

"I cannot imagine the traffic that the lights are going to cause. It is going to be worse… and a new target for beggars," tweeted Amal Rabah (‏@AmalMRabah).

According to the Greater Amman Municipality, the aim of the measure is “to ease traffic congestion”. 

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