​The Public Works Authority ‘Ashghal’ announces it will opening the first 820 meter flyover bridge at Umm Lekhba (Landmark) Interchange as part of Sabah Al Ahmad Corridor project on Saturday 2 November 2019, providing an free flow traffic from Al Gharrafa towards Doha and a parallel route to 22 February Street.

On this occasion, a number of officials paid a visit to follow the latest developments of Umm Lekhba Interchange and the new flyover bridge, including Eng. Yousef Abdulrahman Al Emadi, Projects Affairs Director at Ashghal, Lieutenant Eng  Saoud Abdullah Al Hamad, from Traffic Engineering and Safety Department, Mr. Mubarak Ferish Mubarak Al Salem Central Municipal Council (CMC) member, and Bader Darwish, Highway Project Department Manager along with a number of engineers from Ashghal and the Contracting Company.

Bridge Advantages
The new flyover bridge connects traffic from the new Al Hateem Street to Al Gharrafa in the direction of Doha with 22 February Street and Al Gharrafa Interchange (Passport Interchange) which will reduce travel time.

The flyover will improve traffic in the area. The bridge will accommodate around 1,500 vehicles per hour to serve those coming from Izghawa and Al Gharrafa areas towards Doha without the need to use Al Shamal Road and avoid the current construction works in the area.

It also offers an alternative route for road users coming from the commercial facilities in the area to access 22 February Street directly.

The bridge consists of a unidirectional lane from Al Gharrafa to Doha and another emergency lane, with a total width of about 9 meters, and a height of 24 meters located on the fourth level of Umm Lekhba Interchange, which consists of four levels.

Eng. Mashael Jolo says that the Public Works Authority ‘Ashghal’ will inaugurate the first flyover bridge of Umm Lekhba interchange on Saturday, indicating that the new bridge extends with a length of 820 m from the new Al Hateem Street to 22 February Street which will provide an efficient traffic movement to commuters coming from Al Gharrafa and Izghawa towards Doha.

She explained that 75% of the Umm Lekhba interchange development, known as Landmark Interchange, has been completed.  She pointing out that the construction of this huge and vital interchange is underway around the clock to complete it. It is scheduled to open a second bridge by the end of 2019 followed by other openings until 2020.

She added: Once completed in the last quarter of 2020, the new interchange will significantly improve traffic to shorten the journey time by more than 70%. The bridges provide nine arteries that provide a free traffic flow in nine directions in addition to the free traffic on Al Shamal road as well as the underpass of the old interchange linking Al Markhiya Street and Sabah Al Ahmad Corridor.

Largest Interchange
The new interchange is the largest interchange in Qatar with a length of 11 kilometers. It consists of four levels and is the first in Qatar and contains nine bridges that provide free traffic flow in all directions.

The interchange accommodates more than 20,000 vehicles per hour. Five bridges consist of two lanes in one direction, while the other four bridges include one lane in one direction.

The interchange is the second highest interchange in Qatar after the interchange of Umm Bishr on the G-Ring Road where it is located at an altitude of 35 meters while the height of the highest bridge reaches 36 meters.

Interchange Significance
North Gate Interchange of Doha
Umm Lekhba Interchange is considered to be the northern gate of Doha and a “distribution station” due to its strategic location.  The interchange is located at the northern gate of Doha, where heavy traffic to and from Doha via Al Shamal, it is located in an important spot where Al Shamal Road intersects with the Doha Expressway, Al Markhiya Street and Sabah Al Ahmad Corridor.

Above all, the interchange is located in a densely populated area and a vibrant commercial activity where there are many government entities, educational and health facilities as well as complexes and commercial markets.

The interchange will ease the pressure on Doha Expressway, especially at the Al Gharrafa interchange known as Immigration and Al Duhail intersections. It will also achieve a great traffic flow in front of those coming from Doha Corniche, Markhiya, Madinat Khalifa and Duhail in the direction of Al Shamal Road, Sabah Al Ahmad Corridor, Al Gharrafa and Gharrafat Al Rayyan areas to Al luqta and Al Rayyan.

“The Interchange”
"The new junction consists of:

• An underpass extending 700 meters between Al Markhiya Street and Sabah Al Ahmad Corridor.
• Ground level consists of two loop bridges to Sabah Al Ahmad Corridor (bridge adjacent to Landmark Mall and another adjacent to Ezdan Mall to ease traffic pressure there.
• Ground level includes four bridges that provide free traffic flow and connects Sabah Al Ahmad Corridor to Al Shamal Road
• A second level includes three bridges to ensure traffic flow to and from Al Shamal Road and connecting Al Gharrafa to Doha and Al Shamal Road to Sabah Al Ahmad Corridor.

The project includes providing integrated drinking water network, electricity and treated water lines as well as an integrated rainwater and service water drainage, in addition to creating developing sewage and drainage network, developing various communication networks and fiber optics.

Intelligent Transmission System
The Interchange will include a sophisticated intelligent transportation system where surveillance cameras, vehicle number monitor, vehicle classification and emergency traffic system will be installed. This system will provide important facilities and control for traffic in Qatar

Challenges
The construction of the Umm Lekhba Interchange has encountered many difficulties and challenges:

Umm Lekhba Interchange is located within the busiest part of Al Shamal Road, and is constrained by many factors including the significant number of large shopping centers. Therefore, work was planned in a way that avoids disrupting traffic and traffic congestion on Al Shamal for road users in Umm Lekhba and Gharrafa as well as commercial and residential areas. Accordingly, the Precast segmental balanced cantilever” method of construction was adopted to overcome the complex nature of this project.

The reduction of space and the complex arrangement of bridges also necessitate the design of some bridges, extending long spans up to 90 meters in some cases, the longest in Qatar.

The interchange is designed to ensure the free flow of traffic, resulting in the construction of 9 bridges (Largest Interchange) on 1st 4 level interchange, some of which are approximately 28 meters high (equivalent to a 9-storey building).

The area is crowded and surrounded by many commercial and residential complexes, limiting traffic within location and space for equipment.

Overview of Sabah Al Ahmad Corridor
Sabah Al Ahmad Corridor extends 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 Interchange 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 through Doha, which will constitute a key point to accommodate traffic of Doha Expressway to the southern part of Doha (Al Wakra Bypass) linking Mesaieed 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 significant improvement in traffic will occur due to increased road capacity to more than 20,000 vehicles per hour in both directions after the expansion of the corridor, which will be upgraded to four (4) and five (5) lanes in each direction instead of three (3) lanes, Doha Expressway currently accommodates 12,000 vehicles per hour in both directions.

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.

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

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.