​On the occasion of the National Day of Qatar, The Public Works Authority ’Ashghal’ continues its preparations in cooperation with all concerned governmental entities to facilitate public access to Al Rayyan Venue that will witness for Amir Cup 2020 final match.

Alongside, the announcement from the Organizing Committee of Amir Cup 2020 Final to conduct the event at Al Rayyan Venue, fourth of eight stadiums hosting FIFA 2022 World Cup, Ashghal has announced that all roads leading to the stadium are ready to receive fans of Al Sadd and Al Arabi clubs, ensuring all necessary traffic safety measures.

During recent years, Ashghal has worked on building a network of highways with free flow traffic that facilitates access to Al Rayyan Venue with reduced travel time for people coming from all parts of the country. Similarly, Ashghal has also worked on improving local roads in the region to safeguard direct fast connection with most vital places in the neighborhood such as Al Riffa Metro, Mall of Qatar, Al Riffa Celebration Hall Complex and Al Rayyan Sports Club, one of the largest shopping hub in Qatar, easing fans movement to and from the venue. The infrastructure of the area is well prepared with drainage network, storm water and surface water drainage network, to eradicate drainage problems that have been existing in the area for years.

Fastest Easy Routes to Reach Al Rayyan Venue:

Al Majd Road

The road connects directly to Al Rayyan Venue through Jerry Al Dhabi Interchange and Al Jahhaniya Interchange connecting with Dukhan Road. Al Majd Road is considered as the backbone of road network in Qatar, as it connects south of Qatar from Mesaieed through west of Qatar to northern regions such as Al Khor, as well as east of Qatar at Lusail, facilitating traffic movement in all parts of the country. Al-Majd Road extends 195 kilometers in length and accommodates about 28,000 vehicles per hour in both directions. It consists of 7-lane dual carriage highway with 21 multi-level interchanges that provide free traffic flow. However, the high importance of Al Majd Road is facilitating access to all World Cup stadiums. It also intersects with all other major highways in Qatar such as Salwa Road, G Ring Road, Shamal Road, Al Khor Road and Dukhan Road.

Dukhan Road

One of the main highways implemented by Ashghal directly connects with Al Rayyan Venue and links between Doha and Al Shahaniyah city. With a length of about 15 km, the expanded old road of 4-lane dual carriageway, Dukhan Road has three multi-level interchanges namely, Amiri Guard Interchange, Al Jahhaniya Interchange and Al Duhailiyat Interchange to provide free flow traffic. The importance of Dukhan road lies in its connection with Khalifa Avenue, Al Riffa Street and Al Majd Road, facilitating traffic movement between Doha, North Road and western areas in Dukhan.

Road Improvements around Al Rayyan Venue linking with Al Riffa Station:

Ashghal has recently completed project works to develop local roads leading to Al Rayyan Venue and opened it to traffic providing free flow traffic in the area.

The project works included developing the roads leading to Al Rayyan Venue with a total length of about 5 km with two lanes in each direction. Three signal-controlled intersections and one roundabout were built to facilitate access to Mall of Qatar, Al Majd Road, and the roads connecting to Al Riffa Street (Known as Celebrations Street). This comes in an aim to serve these vital destinations and Al Rayyan Hotel, as well as to facilitate movement of spectators between these destinations and the venue, in addition to enhancing the capacity of the roads that are witnessing an increase in traffic density.

This project significantly helps linking Al Riffa area with neighboring areas and facilitates access to the vital destinations adjacent to the new roads such as Mall of Qatar, Al Riffa Celebrations Complex and Al Rayyan Sports Club. One major feature of the project is its link with Al Riffa Metro Station, which is located at the Gate of Mall of Qatar, which serves visitors, business owners, fans and event organisers heading to and from Mall of Qatar and Al Rayyan Venue.

The project also included the implementation of a 10-km surface water drainage network, a 3-km sewage network in addition to installation of 339 electricity poles, diversion of existing infrastructure services, installation of traffic lights, signs and road markings. This is in addition to afforestation and beautification works in the areas adjacent to the roads, on an area of 70,000 square meters including 216 trees and 1,300 shrubs.

Pedestrian paths and cycle ways:

The project includes pedestrian paths with a length of 10 km and a width of 10 meter, dedicated cycle paths with a length of 513 meters, and running paths with a length of 513 meters.

Roads and Infrastructure Development in Bani Hajer (Package One):

Ashghal has developed 5 km long Al Terhab Street within the works of Roads and Infrastructure Development Project in Bani Hajer, Package 1. This street is directly connected to Al Riffa Street (known as Celebration Street) to facilitate access to the stadium for those coming from Dukhan Road and Al Majd Road. It also serves the neighborhoods of Rawdat Al Jahhaniya, Rawdat Eqdaim and Bani Hajer.

Extensive improvement works were executed on the road network with a total length of 28 km and width ranging between 16m and 40m, installing signal-controlled intersections in order to facilitate access to all residential and commercial establishments, schools and Masjids in the region.

Within this package, Al Terhab Street was expanded connecting Bani Hajer area with Al Riffa Street and Mall of Qatar, with advanced lighting systems, dedicated car-parking slots, accesses to residential neighborhoods, installing many traffic signages and panels, footpaths, speed-humps, and provision of shared pedestrian and cycle paths to encourage residents to adopt a healthy lifestyle.

The first package of the project also included extensive infrastructure development works in the region as per highest specifications. The works covered groundwater and rainwater drainage networks, solving the long-pending problem of rainwater gathering and establishing safe drainage networks.

Parking lots and walkways to access the stadium:

Ashghal was keen to provide dedicated parking slots for "Park and Ride" cars that serve Al Riffa Station within the Green Line of Doha Metro directly connecting to Al Rayyan Venue. Road users can park their cars and move through the Railway lines. Entrances and exits area also provided direct connections with main roads leading to Al Rayyan Venue and the parking lots for public implemented by the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy (SCDL).

The project also facilitated pedestrian crossings and paths from car parks, buses and taxis to the stadium.

Drainage Network Connecting Stadium with Pumping Station:

The completed works involved the construction of a deep trunk sewer extending from Al Rayyan Venue to Al Shamal Road to collect and discharge foul flows to Pumping Station 70, located in Al-Ebb and Leabaib. The sewage will subsequently be pumped into the treatment plant in Umm Slal Municipality.

It is worth noting that the sewer line starts at a depth of 7 meters, from Al Rayyan Venue, until it reaches the tie-in point in Al-Kharaitiyat and Izghawa area on Al Shamal Road, where the line runs at a depth of approximately 30 meters.

Coordination of operational works on roads around Al Rayyan Venue:

The Roads Operation and Maintenance team of Asset Affairs at Ashghal works round the clock to ensure readiness of traffic management on the roads around Al Rayyan Stadium, the main entrances and exits, ensuring the roads are free from obstacles and confirming steady traffic flow throughout the event.

In order to achieve sustainability of projects, cost reduction and preserve environment, Ashghal recycled about 60 directional signs that were used in previous tournaments to direct the public to Al Rayyan Venue and to various car park slots, in addition to using dynamic signs on the roads to alert and update them of the road status.

In cooperation with concerned entities, a study was conducted on road closures, traffic diversions and alternate traffic plans to facilitate movement of people and vehicles during the tournament. All necessary operational and emergency response plans are completed through teams working round the clock, equipped with necessary devices, including emergency test scenarios and rapid intervention within five minutes to ensure traffic flow and safety of road users.

These efforts from the Roads Operation and Maintenance Department come through establishing an integrated team to survey, study and test all road assets around the stadium to ensure quality of road elements such as asphalt conditions, signages, safety barriers, drainage assets, street lighting, pedestrian crossings, land markings and traffic lights to ensure their readiness. Accordingly, required maintenance works are carried out to ensure its readiness for safe use during the tournament.

In terms of coordination, Asset Affairs team in Ashghal coordinated with Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy (SCDL), General Directorate of Traffic, Qatar Rail, Transport Operations Control Center of the tournament organizing committee and other entities to ensure traffic safety on the roads leading to the stadium and to ensure easy and safe access for public.

All Prepared for Rainfall:

The Drainage Networks Operation and Maintenance Department at Ashghal continues to monitor the drainage network round the clock to ensure its continuous and efficient operation. In addition to cleaning the drainage holes around the stadium and on the roads around, the team also ensures that the stadium and surroundings are free of rainwater during the tournament in the event of potential rainfall.

In addition, emergency teams are assigned for rapid response and to provide the necessary support in the event of rain or any defect in the service. In cooperation with contractors of the framework contract for drainage networks, Ashghal will monitor customer feedback in the areas surrounding Al Rayyan Venue and provide rapid responses.

Bus Stations and Bus Depots:

Ashghal’s Buildings Projects Department, in coordination with the Ministry of Transport and Communications, is working on the construction of Al Rayyan Bus Depot and Education City Bus Station that primarily serve Al Rayyan Venue. These facilities are designed as per highest global safety and environment standards GSAS, and important design and operational considerations have been taken into consideration to achieve 3-star environmental quality for energy saving and environmental conservation.

Al-Rayyan Bus Depot provides berth for about 380 buses. It also includes a maintenance workshop and cleaning facility, and it is expected to be completed by the first quarter of 2022. The Education City Bus Station will facilitate passenger transportation services to Al Rayyan Venue, as it has been designed to include 855 trips during daytime. The completion rate of this project reached 44% and work is expected to be completed in third quarter of 2021.