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Ashghal > Home > Media Hub > Press Releases Ashghal Opens Friday 850m New Bridge Partially on Sabah Al Ahmad Corridor

Ashghal Opens Friday 850m New Bridge Partially on Sabah Al Ahmad Corridor

7/24/2019

A partial opening of a new bridge in Al Luqta to traffic

​The Public Works Authority ‘Ashghal’ announces a partial opening of a new bridge in Al Luqta to traffic at the length of 850 meters as a part of Sabah Al Ahmad Corridor works on Friday 26 July 2019, in coordination with General Directorate of Traffic.

Ashghal has said that two lanes traffic from Al Luqta towards Al Rayyan will be available for the public open on Friday 26 July 2019, while two lanes in the opposite direction will be open to traffic from Al Rayyan towards Al Luqta on Friday 2 August 2019.

The new opening will reduce traffic congestion in the area, providing free traffic flow to road users from Al Gharrafa and Al Luqta heading for Al Waab and Al Rayyan, especially with the current traffic diversion and a direct link between those areas.

The new bridge will have been fully operated by 2020, which will reduce traffic in the area and journey time by 60%. The bridge will have four lanes in each direction to accommodate more than 16,000 vehicles per hour.

On this occasion, Project Engineer Ali Ibrahim stated that the opening of the new bridge is the first key milestone of the construction works north of Sabah Al Ahmad Corridor, stressing the importance of the bridge in improving traffic flow.

He added: “The opening of the bridge will provide a free traffic flow to serve the areas of Al Gharrafa, Al Luqta, Al Rayyan and Al Waab, especially that the bridge facilitates an easy access to Al Rayyan Road and Khalifa Avenue”.

The new Makkah Al Mukarramah Interchange:

The Public Works Authority ‘Ashghal’ is currently changing the old roundabout connecting Makkah Street and Sabah Al Ahmad Corridor into two levels interchange. The new junction will include one new bridge and signalized junction under the bridge. When completed by the first quarter of 2020, the road capacity will reach about 24 thousand vehicles per hour which will improve the traffic in the area by connecting Al Gharrafa, Al Luqta, Al Waab, Al Rayyan and vital facilities such as businesses, schools, and hospitals.

Traffic Diversion

In order to allow the opening of the new bridge and accelerate the completion of the second phase of the remaining works at Makkah Al Mukarramah Interchange and service roads, Ashghal will implement a temporary traffic diversion in two stages:

From Al Gharrafa towards Al Rayyan and Al Waab:

The traffic will be diverted from Sabah Al Ahmad Corridor to the bridge for those coming from Al Gharrafa area towards Al Rayyan and Al Waab south, while maintaining the signalized junction to those coming from Makkah Street in the direction of Al Rayyan south on Friday 26 July 2019.

From Al Waab and Al Rayyan towards Al Gharrafa:

The second phase will be on Friday 2nd August 2019. Where traffic will be shifted temporarily under the bridge and on service roads in addition to the shifting the traffic on the bridge for those coming from Al Rayyan and Al Waab area towards Al Gharrafa north, traffic change will be as follows:

  • Road users coming from Al Rayyan and Al Waab using the bridge towards Al Gharrafa north. 
  • Road users heading from Makkah Street towards Al Gharrafa north, Turn right on a service road from Sabah Al Ahmad Corridor.
  • Arriving from Makkah Street towards Al Rayyan and Al Waab south, continue under the new bridge and turn left on a service road adjacent to the bridge.
  • Road users coming from Makkah Street, use the new U-turn under the bridge in order to turn to the same street. 
  • Arriving from the area of Rayyan and Al-Waab south towards Makkah Street east, adhere to the service road heading to the right.

Ashghal will install road signs advising all road users to abide by the temporary speed limits and follow the road signs to ensure their safety.

Sabah Al Ahmad Corridor

Sabah Al Ahmad Corridor is the first in Qatar to be called the "Corridor" instead of a road due to its great importance and specifications of its unique construction, with the completion of the new Corridor in 2021 with a length of 25 kilometers and a total works of 37 kilometers, the road will have the first Cable-Stayed Bridge in Qatar as well as the largest intersection, longest bridge, deepest and longest bi-directional tunnel.

The road will increase the importance of the Corridor that will include the upgrade of seven (7) main roads to become not only the "Doha traffic relief" by providing an alternative route to the busy 22 February street and a double traffic capacity, but also will link another traffic from the south of the country to the north via Doha By linking the southern part  with Doha Expressway (Al Wakra Bypass).

Sabah Al Ahmad Corridor will extend for approximately 25 kilometres from Hamad International Airport to Umm Lekhba Interchange (known as Landmark Interchange) on Doha Expressway. Its scope includes the upgrade of seven (7) main roads namely, E Ring, F Ring, Mesaimeer, Al Bustan, Bu Erayyen, Lebday and sections of Al Markhiya Street. In addition, Ashghal will enhance 12 kilometres of local and peripheral roads intersecting with the Corridor. The total road works of the project is approximately 37 kilometres.   

“Delivering traffic relief in Doha”

Once completed in 2021, Sabah Al Ahmad Corridor will significantly contribute to the relief of traffic congestion on Doha Expressway in particular, 22 February Street. The new Corridor will be a vital alternative and parallel route that will serve thousands of daily commuters from the north to the south of Doha.

Commuters travelling from Hamad International Airport will be able to reach Umm Lekhba Intersection in approximately 18 minutes compared to the current 50 minutes via Doha Expressway and 22 February Street reducing traffic time by 70%.

The new Corridor will also form a vital link between the north and the south of Doha through Al Watiyyat Interchange, at F Ring Road, which will constitute a key point to accommodate traffic to both Sabah Al Ahmad Corridor and Doha Expressway. This interchange will also create a vital connection between Doha Expressway and Southern Part of Doha Express Highway (Al Wakra Bypass) as well as to Mesaieed Road further south.

The current road layout holds up to three (3) lanes in each direction, which will be upgraded to between four (4) and five (5) lanes in each direction. This expansion will accommodate approximately 20,000 vehicles per hour in both directions on the Corridor while Doha Expressway currently accommodates 12,000 vehicles per hour, which will significantly improve traffic movements in the surrounding areas.

The project will convert all roundabouts to more efficient and safer signalised junctions as well as build and upgrade 17 interchanges. These interchanges will deliver 32 bridges and 12 vehicular underpasses to enhance connectivity and provide smooth traffic movements in addition to 12 pedestrian bridges.

65 kilometres of pedestrian and cycle paths along with 1.5 million square metre of landscaping will also be delivered as part of the project’s scope of works.

Record achievements

First Cable-Stayed Bridge in Qatar

Sabah Al Ahmed Corridor includes the first Cable-Stayed Bridge in Qatar with a length of 1200 metres. It extends from Mesaimeer Road to Al Bustan Street and crosses over Halul Intersection on Mesaimeer Road and Faleh Bin Nasser Intersection on Salwa Road.

Longest Bridge

The Corridor will be the home to the longest flyover in the country, which spans 2.6 kilometres extending from Al Bustan Street to Bu Erayyen Street and crossing over Al Waab Street and Rasheeda Street.

Largest Interchange

Sabah Al Ahmad Corridor will include the largest Interchange in Qatar. The impressively complex Umm Lekhba (Landmark) Interchange has nine (9) bridges providing a free traffic flow in all directions highlighting its significance as a key access point on Doha Expressway for local residential areas and malls.

Longest and deepest bi-directional tunnel

The project consists of the recently opened Al Rayyan Road, which is the longest and deepest bi-directional tunnel in Qatar. It sits 25 metres below ground level and extends for 2.1 kilometres connecting Bu Erayyen Street and Lebday Street.

Residential Areas and Main Roads

The new Corridor is a major link facilitating connections to 15 main roads namely Al Wakra Road, Ras Bu Abboud Road, E Ring Road, F Ring Road, Industrial Road, Salwa Road, Al Rayyan Road, Al Waab Street, Al Luqta Street, Al Markhiya Street, Doha Highway and Khalifa Avenue. It will serve 25 densely populated residential areas such as Al-Thumama, Al Nuaija, Bu Hamour, Al Waab, Al Rayyan, Al Luqta, Al Gharrafa, etc.

World Cup Stadiums

Sabah Al Ahmad Corridor will facilitate access to most of the World Cup FIFA 2022 stadiums including Ras Bu Abboud, Al Thumama, Al Wakra, Khalifa International and Qatar Foundation Stadiums.

Qatar Rail

The Corridor provides easy access to some of Doha Metro stations such as the Economic Zone, Al Waab and Old Rayyan.