A further 6km stretch of road on the ambitious Doha Expressway will be opening on Thursday, freeing up congestion in Doha and neighbouring areas.
The QR15bn Doha Expressway project is a key development programme of Ashghal which aims to connect the north of Doha with the south, and the east with the west.
The intersection (February 22 Street and Amir Street), a part of phase 1 and 2 of Doha Expressway, will offer direct connection to Asiri Tunnel and Gharaffa Bridge (the Immigration Office)).
Work on the stretch stopped in August 2009, after the Public Works Authority (Ashghal) and main contractor ran into a dispute. Work resumed in November 2009 after Ashghal awarded the contracts to three other companies.
The overall phases I and II of the project included development of a main highway from the Immigration intersection to the Midmac intersection, including service roads, infrastructure and landscaping works and the construction of four main interchanges at Omar bin Khattab, Rayyan Street, Jowan, and Sadd.
“The project is one of the most important roads in the ongoing rapid development of infrastructure in Qatar. Work is also underway to complete all the service roads, giving motorists access to the expressway,” Ashghal said yesterday.
The opening portion will connect Al Rayyan Road to Doha Expressway with a length of 700m and includes two lanes in one direction. Some service roads will be partially accessible as well, Ashghal said.
The construction of a tunnel in the direction of Mecca Street has also been achieved with 900m as of February 2010.
The Al Rayyan-Doha Expressway stretch has been achieved with four levels, including an 800m-long tunnel with a three-lane dual carriageway; Rayyan bridge with a two-lane, 800m dual carriageway towards New Rayyan Street and a link road with two lanes of 380m between 22 February Street and Rayyan Street, as well as roundabouts serving three rotational motion in all directions and eventually re-creating 1800m of Rayyan Road.
Other aspects of the projects, the Sadd Interchange includes reconstruction of the 1,200m-long Sadd Street intersecting the Doha Expressway and building the Sadd Tunnel with a two-lane dual carriageway.
The Jowan Interchange includes reconstruction of the street over 1km to intersect the expressway, in addition to a signalled intersection as well as 700m three-lane dual carriageway.
“We call on the motorists to remain cautious and avoid speeding and mind the white painting restrictions to ensure traffic safety for all road users,” Ashghal said.