Highway improvements as part of Ashghal’s vital nationwide Expressway Programme have commenced on another significant arterial road into Doha. The Public Works Authority ‘Ashghal’ has started on the first and second phase of its Al Rayyan Road upgrade project which aims to improve traffic flow and reduce congestion in an area vital to the flow of goods and people into the capital
(as per the attached map).
The first and second phases of the Al Rayyan upgrade project, valued at approximately QR 4.5 billion, are part of Ashghal’s Expressway Programme, designed to provide vital highway links across Qatar connecting key cities, towns and villages. The projects aim to create a long term, sustainable road network that continues to support the growing social and economic development of Qatar in response to the strategic demands of Qatar National Vision 2030.
The Al Rayyan project will provide a high quality, safe and efficient road network, improving the travel experience for all road users in and around the area. Phase one of the project involves a 2.9 km stretch from west of Khalid bin Abdullah al-Attiyah roundabout (New Rayyan roundabout) to the east of Bani Hajer roundabout and scheduled to be completed by Q4, 2016. While the second phase stretching 5.3 km from west of Sports roundabout to the west of Khalid bin Abdullah Al-Attiyah roundabout (New Rayyan roundabout) is expected to be completed by Q3, 2017.
As part of the preparation for implementation works, Ashghal has placed sufficient warning signs, barriers and other precautionary measures in order to regulate traffic flow. To minimise disruption during construction and ensure continuous traffic movement, Ashghal plans to create new traffic diversions that will accommodate the current traffic in the area.
Once completed, the improvements to the Al Rayyan area will result in less congestion which will improve journey time for all road users. To encourage citizens and residents to walk and ride bicycles, new and improved pedestrian pathways and cycle paths will be constructed. These sustainable means of transportation will have less of an environmental impact and will ease traffic congestion.
Phase one of the project, which will serve important residential areas and public entities such as Education City, universities and schools at Qatar Foundation, comprises the construction and upgrade of four lanes in each direction separated by a central median in addition to 2 km of side roads and associated service roads.
This phase will include the construction of the following three interchanges: the Wajba interchange between Al Rayyan road and Al Wajba Street, Al Shafi interchange between Al Rayyan road and Al Shafi street (two-level interchange) and Al Qalah interchange (Castle R/B) between Al Rayyan road and Al Qalah (two-level Interchange).
The improvement scheme for phase two will feature four lanes in each direction separated by a central median, in addition to 5.4km of side roads, and associated service roads.
The second phase will include the construction of six main junctions which are Al Massila interchange , Al Rayyan interchange, Bin Zaben interchange, Khalid bin Abdullah al-Attiyah interchange at Al Rayyan Road, Old Rayyan interchange at Huwar Street (Furosiya) and Lebdii interchange at Bu Erayyen road.
The two phases will include major micro tunneling work, treated sewage effluent networks and upgrades to electrical and telecommunication networks.
Works are also underway on phase four of the Al Rayyan project stretching from Jasim Bin Mohammed Street and Old Diwan intersection on Al Rayyan Road. This phase extends across 1.5 km and connects several vital commercial areas such as Souq Waqif and Msheireb Downtown Doha project which is currently in progress.