The Public Works Authority ‘Ashghal’ has announced the full opening of Al Furousiya Street to traffic, to improve the traffic in the area as well as significantly facilitating the commuting of fans to Khalifa International Stadium, one of the stadiums that will host the FIFA Club World Cup that started today.
On this occasion, Eng. Saoud Al Tamimi, Manager of the Roads Projects Department at ‘Ashghal’ highlighted the pivotal role of Al Furousiya Street in linking several vital residential areas such as Muraikh, Al Rayyan Al Jadeed, Baaya, Muaither and Al Aziziya in addition to facilitating access to many public amenities and leisure destinations such as Aspire Zone Complex, Villaggio Mall and the Equestrian Club. It also provides connection to several hotels, commercial and service centers as well as educational facilities such as University of Calgary and Aspire Academy. He stated that the opening has gained importance during the Arabian Gulf Cup and will gain even more as the FIFA Club World Cup event started and Al Furousiya Street provides a direct link to Khalifa Stadium.
Eng. Al Tamimi then explained how the completion of upgrading works on Al Furousiya Street has significantly enhanced the traffic flow and reduced the congestion in the area especially that the project aimed at improving the vehicular capacity of the street by increasing its lanes from three to four in each direction, upgrading exits and entrances of the surrounding streets as well as providing service roads.
He also shed the light on the connection of Al Furousiya Street to some of the most vital roads in the country such as Salwa Road, Al Waab Street, Muaither Street, Al Rayyan Al Jadeed Street, Huwar Street, etc.
Al Furousiya Street project has increased the number of lanes on 7.8 kilometers of the street starting from Al Manaseer Intersection towards Al Furousiya Intersection. Further to upgrading the street and increasing its vehicular capacity, works included the construction of service roads on both sides of the street and upgrading four signalised intersections by expanding Al Manaseer Intersection, introducing a new signalized intersection at Umm al Jamajim Street as well as converting Al Furousiya and Muaither Roundabouts to signalized intersections in order to alleviate the traffic congestion at two of the most crowded roundabouts in the area especially during peak hours.
Works also included the construction of 570 parking bays in addition to the upgrading of the lighting system and the installation of 233 lighting poles. To encourage a healthy lifestyle, a 15.7 km of pedestrian path and 5.6 km of cycle paths were also constructed. Improvement works also included pavement, interlock and road marking works as well as the development of an irrigation system and landscaping works along the street covering over 70,000 m2 with 1000 trees.
Infrastructure works within the project comprised developing the main drainage networks and connecting homes to this network, constructing permanent stormwater, groundwater and wastewater treatment networks in addition to protecting the underground telecommunications, potable water and electricity utility lines.
It is worth mentioning that the project was implemented by Al Jaber & Makhlouf Contracting Company, at a cost of approximately 250million Qatari Riyals.