​The Public Works Authority ‘Ashghal’ participated in the "Seventh Forum of the Stakeholder Coordinators of the National Road Safety Strategy" inaugurated by H.E. Mr. Jassem bin Saif Al Sulaiti, Minister of Transport and Communications and the First Deputy Chairman of the National Committee for Traffic Safety.

The forum titled ‘Exceptional Plans Forum’ was held under the patronage of H.E. Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani, Prime Minister and Minister of Interior.

In the forum, Ashghal showcased the efforts it has taken to achieve the goals of the strategy, its overall achievements in 2018 and the ongoing efforts in 2019. This include provision of extensive logistic support and implementing the plans assigned to it being a member of the committee, its lead role in pedestrian crossings implementation committee and as a member of the working groups of congestion, speed, awareness and investigation of accidents.

During the forum, Eng. Yousef Abdulrahman Al Emadi, Projects Affairs Director at Ashghal has highlighted the traffic safety as one its first priorities, saying, "Ashghal is collaborating with its partners in implementing the plans of action and continues implementing its projects aiming at achieving highest safety standards on Qatar’s road network.  Ashghal has completed implementation of many assigned plans within the national road safety strategy”.

“Ashghal continues to implement its programme to enhance traffic safety in the school premises to ensure safety of students, parents and staff, especially at the entry and exit points of schools. This programme includes 495 schools across the country, and so far 335 of them have been completed representing 68% of the targeted schools. As for the achievements of the Road Maintenance Department in road safety, Ashghal completed maintenance and pavement of roads along nearly 200 Km in 2018.

“As part of its strategy to enhance traffic safety, Ashghal has also completed installation of 15 dynamic signs on important highways and main roads such as Al Corniche St., 22 February St., C-Ring Road, Khalifa Avenue, Dukhan Road and Salwa Road.  These boards display road status information for road users regarding traffic, congestion, diversion and closures, etc.

The mechanism in activating these billboards involves continuous road monitoring process in the control room connected with smart cameras in various locations on roads to identify traffic congestions, traffic diversions and accidents. On spotting such incidents, immediate coordination takes place with the General Directorate of Traffic to display dynamic messages on the boards to inform drivers.”

Eng. Al Emadi continued saying, “whereas the fully completed plans include formation of a full-fledged Road Management Center (RMC) with all provisions including programmess, equipment, personnel, training, operational procedures and coordination between partners to ensure operation of the center at full capacity."

In addition, Ashghal completed implementation of congestion management plan constituting an accident response team in close cooperation with other emergency support services to attend accident sites throughout Qatar. This plan includes investigation of road accidents, measuring damages and determining causes. This is being done through the full provision of accident support vehicles, with the aim of responding within minimum time and providing safe corridors for road users at accident sites.

Eng. Al Emadi added that Ashghal has also completed implementation one of the road safety-engineering plan. It includes development of a pilot project for best road practices in terms of implementing reduced speeds, giving priority to pedestrian crossing facilities through bridges, especially at accident prone areas and near sport facilities being built for FIFA World Cup 2022.

Through a field survey project designed for Street Assets and Elements in Qatar, Ashghal has established an integrated database of more than 22,000 km of road routes, which included more than 800,000 originals and around 20,000 kilometers of longitudinal assets such as safety barriers, and more than 68 square kilometers of surface pavement.

It worth to be mentioned that Ashghal’s five-year plan for the period (2018-2022) includes implementation of 25 action plans for road safety assessment and follow-up, including achievement of safety at work sites, traffic congestion management, intelligent transportation system (ITS), road safety design, traffic safety, assets management and road maintenance. This plan also involves an emergency response team for urgent maintenance work, study of signages, ensure pedestrian safety, and traffic congestion management during hosting of FIFA World Cup 2022.