Coinciding with opening of schools for the new academic year 2020-2021, the Public Works Authority ‘Ashghal’ opened Duhail Al Gharrafa Bridge and parts of traffic signals within Duhail Interchange Development Project on Shamal Road, six months before the schedule. The opening was held in the presence of dignitaries including Eng. Yousef Al-Emadi, Director of Projects Affairs, Eng. Bader Darwish, Asst. Manager of Highway Projects Department, Mr. Mubarak bin Freish Mubarak Alsalem, member of Central Municipal Council for District No. 15, Mr. Ali bin Khalaf Majrin Al-Kubaisi, member of CMC for District No. 3, besides officials from Ashghal and the contracting company.
Ashghal clarifies that remaining parts of Duhail Interchange project are scheduled to open in next September, within 18months from the start of works on the project.
Duhail Al Gharrafa Bridge will provide free flow traffic between Al Khafaji Street and Al Gharrafa Street and cut the travel time by 95% between areas of West Bay, Al-Markhiya, Madinat Khalifa, and Duhail towards Gharrafat Al Rayyan, Al Gharrafa and Al Rayyan areas. The newly opened bridge consists of a 400-meter three-lane dual carriageway to accommodate about 12,000 vehicles per hour on both sides.In addition to Duhail Al-Gharrafa Bridge, parts of traffic signals under North Bridge are also open. Thus commuters from Shamal can directly access Duhail and West Bay through Al Khafaji Street and vice versa. Similarly, commuters from Al Gharrafa can directly reach North Road and vice versa. Whereas, commuters along Al-Gharrafa Street, Al-Khafaji Street and Shamal Road can take U-turn after opening of all U-turn exits on all streets.
Due to its vital location at the northern gate of Doha city on Shamal Road, the new openings on Duhail Interchange will contribute in enhanced traffic flow in the region, as it will provide alternate routes to many schools and educational facilities in the surroundings including Qatar University, North Atlantic College and Education City. It will also serve commuters heading to other lively facilities and commercial entities in the region.
This opening will also provide alternate traffic routes at Izghawa Interchange on one hand and Umm Lekhba Interchange on the other, which is being developed within Sabah Al Ahmad Corridor project, resulting in reduced traffic congestion on two vital interchanges.On this occasion, Eng. Yousef Al-Emadi, Director of Projects Affairs at Ashghal, asserted that Ashghal continues its journey towards completion of various infrastructure projects, and sets priorities in major projects that serve large section of people. He also pointed out that Ashghal project works are going on without interruptions despite the blockade or Covid-19, and the strong evidence is this opening of Duhail Al-Gharrafa Bridge and traffic signals prior to six months of proposed schedule.
For his part, Eng Bader Darwish, Manager of Highway Projects Department at Ashghal confirmed that Duhail Interchange is considered as a vital infrastructure project, as it is the gateway to Doha city on Shamal Road, and once completed it will bring radical change in traffic flow. He also explained that the new bridge is to shorten distance and save travel time by more than 95% after renovation of Duhail Interchange, because previously road users had to use the congested signalized Duhail Roundabout.
On her part, Assistant Project Manager Eng. Sheikha Al-Mansoori from Projects Affairs at Ashghal said that 75% of works on Duhail Interchange development project are completed in record time not exceeding eighteen months, and the remaining works are in full swing to end the project in 2021. She also pointed out that opening of Duhail Al-Gharrafa Bridge and parts of traffic lights at the interchange coincides with opening of schools for new academic year, as the area houses many schools and institutions.
Whereas Eng. Saad Al Dousari clarified that almost 60% of materials used in the project works are locally manufactured in Qatar, such as iron, concrete, fittings and most of the asphalt works.
For his part, Mr. Mubarak bin Fraich Al Salem, member of Central Municipal Council (CMC) for constituency No. 15 confirmed that the new openings would mostly benefit for people residing in Al-Gharrafa and Gharrafat Al-Rayyan, and visitors of vital facilities in the region, as the area houses many schools and commercial entities, praising Ashghal for the efforts it exerted to complete the project in a record time.
Whereas Mr. Ali bin Khalaf Al Kubaisi, member of CMC for constituency No. 3 opined that Duhail Interchange is located in a very vital area and in the heart of densely populated zones such as Duhail, Al Markhiya and Al Gharrafa.
It is noteworthy that huge volume of locally made materials including asphalt amounting to 207,000 tons, about 53,000 cubic meters of reinforced concrete and 14,128 tons of iron were used in the project. Similarly, many infrastructure services are developed within the scope of the project including 10,722 meters of rainwater drainage and sewage network to prevent accumulation of water during rainy season and 14,205 meters for laying the treated water network and irrigation pipes, besides extension of 16.8 km electricity networks.
Previous Achievements in Duhail Interchange and Al Gharrafa Rod Development Project:
The Public Works Authority ‘Ashghal’ began implementation works of this project during first quarter of the previous year 2019. Nevertheless, in December 2019, Ashghal opened North Bridge, after developing it to a five-lane bridge towards North and four lanes towards Doha, replacing the previous three-lane bridge, and thus achieved tremendous development in traffic flow in this crowded area.
Features of Duhail Interchange Development Project:
Duhail Interchange is located in a densely populated and commercially important location, as it houses many governmental institutions, educational and health facilities, as well as commercial entities and shopping centers.
The interchange will reduce traffic pressure on Doha Expressway, especially in Duhail and Al Gharrafa areas, and it will improve free flow traffic in the area.
Duhail Interchange project includes construction works for 3.3km of road network and development of old interchange. It covers construction of a bridge consisting three-lane dual carriageway connecting Al Khafaji Street and Al Gharrafa Street along with development of parts of the two streets, installing a lighted traffic signal under North Bridge to provide commuters on Shamal Road with accesses to Duhail and Al Gharrafa areas, construction of one underpass that facilitates access for commuters from Shamal Road towards service roads and commercial complexes, and another service road for commuters from Al-Gharrafa Street towards Shamal Road. The works also include removal of the roundabout known as Sheikh Faisal Roundabout and link Al-Gharrafa Road with Al-Mashabiya Street.
The project also includes construction of bicycle and pedestrian paths of about 5.5 km stretching from Duhail to Al-Gharrafa and parts of Shamal Road, besides works to develop rainwater drainage and sewage network.