The Public Works Authority ‘Ashghal’ announces the opening of the Tilted Intersection on Friday 4 October 2019 to traffic, as part of Khalifa Avenue project works, in the presence of HE the Chairman of the Central Municipal Council (CMC) Mohamed bin Hamoud al-Shafi, Eng. Yousef Abdulrahman Al Emadi, Projects Affairs Director at Ashghal ,Brigadier Mohamed Marafi, Director of Traffic Engineering and Safety Department at the General Directorate of Traffic and Bader Darwish, Highway Project Department Manager along with a number of engineers from Ashghal and the Contracting Company.
The Tilted Intersection is a main link that connects between Al Gharrafa, Huwar Street, Al Luqta Street and Khalifa Avenue to integrate with the tilted intersection which connects Al Gharrafa Street and Huwar Street with a length of 2.7 kilometer which will significantly reduce traffic congestion and travel time for road users heading to Doha, Al Gharrafa, Al Rayyan and Al Luqta, and facilitate the access to Gharrafat Al Rayyan, Bani Hajer and Dukhan.
With these openings, those coming from Al Shamal Road heading to Al Rayyan and Qatar Foundation can use the new tunnel and intersection across Al Gharrafa Street and Huwar Street without the need to use 22 February Street and avoid congestion there.
The openings also serve traffic to Education City Stadium, which will open at the end of this year and will host the semi-finals and final of the FIFA World Club Cup organized by Qatar.
The intersection will facilitate the access to several vital facilities in the area such as Sidra Medicine, Qatar National Convention Center, Qatar Foundation and Education City.
The Tilted Intersection includes a signalized roundabout, which is a different design from the usual roundabouts. The new design of the roundabout will have Khalifa Avenue main free flow traffic pass through it, similar to Gharrafat Al Rayyan Interchange to facilitate traffic and to serve as a link between Doha, Dukhan, Al Gharrafa and Al Rayyan.
Moreover, the number of lanes at the new intersection has been increased, with three main lanes in each direction and two service lanes to accommodate approximately 8,500 vehicles.
Intersection and Tunnel Beautification Works
The Public Works Authority has been keen to set up landscape and beautification works at the Tilted Intersection and a tunnel as part of the country’s plan to beautify the streets and part of Khalifa Avenue project works.
On this occasion, HE the Chairman of the Central Municipal Council (CMC) Mohamed bin Hamoud al-Shafi expressed his happiness in opening the Tilted Intersection, pointing that the opening of the tunnel and intersection in one month shows the keenness of Ashghal to complete the project works as soon as possible.
HE the Chairman of the Central Municipal Council (CMC) explained that these openings mainly serve the residents of Al Gharrafa, Al Luqta and Al Rayyan, as well as the surrounding vital facilities such as Qatar Foundation, Education City, Sidra Medicine and others.
Yousef Al Emadi, Projects Affairs Director at Ashghal, said that Ashghal recently completed a number of openings on the Khalifa Road project to reach 92% of the completed works, noting that Ashghal was keen to maintain the symbolism of the intersection by keeping the intersection relatively tilted as it used to be.
Al Emadi hinted that Ashghal seeks to complete the work of Khalifa Avenue project works by next year after the completion of the rest of the intersections and beautification works on the road.
For his part, Brigadier Mohamed Marafi, Director of Traffic Engineering and Safety Department at the General Directorate of Traffic, said that the opening of the Tilted Intersection will improve traffic in directions whether it’s from Al Gharrafa Street, Huwar Street, Al Luqta Street or Khalifa Avenue Road.
He noted that the new design of the intersection will achieve a smooth traffic flow and reduce travel time, especially after the opening of the Tilted Intersection, which opened in early September, where it provides a free traffic flow between Al Gharrafa and Al Rayyan.
Directions of Tilted Intersection
Road users on Al Luqta Street will have to use the main road passing through the roundabout to go to Dukhan and vice versa. As for the road users on Al Luqta Street heading north towards Al Gharrafa or South towards Al Rayyan, will have to use the service lanes, take the roundabout and follow the signs to reach their destinations.
Khalifa Avenue Milestones
The Public Works Authority has completed the asphalt works on Al Luqta main road which consists of four lanes in each direction from the east of Tilted Intersection until west of Al Wajbah Interchange.
In addition to the opening, Ashghal has opened the two –way parallel service roads, which connects major facilities such as Qatar Foundation, Sidra Medicine and Qatar National Convention Centre.
The Public Works Authority has opened important sections of Khalifa Avenue Project, such as significant sections of the vital three-level Bani Hajer interchange. The interchange which replaced the previous roundabout accommodates approximately 1,500 vehicles per hour and provides free traffic flow movements and is a key access to Dukhan Road, Al Luqta Street and Al Rayyan Road, as well as the residential areas around such as Bani Hajer, Al Rayyan, Gharrafat Al Rayyan and Al Gharrafa. The intersection is comprised of two bridges, two underpasses, three ramps (right turn exits) and two loops to provide connectivity in all directions. Upon completion, the interchange will boast a unique 300-meter multipurpose bridge, the first of its kind in Qatar, along with cycle and pedestrian paths.
It is important to note that Ashghal has completed 92% of construction works on Khalifa Avenue Project, which is scheduled to be completed in Q3 2020. Upon completion, the project will deliver approximately 11.6 km of dual carriageway with four lanes in each direction besides seven major interchanges, service roads along the carriageway, in addition to cycle, pedestrian and camel paths which will be on the south side of Al Luqta Street.