The Public Works Authority ‘Ashghal’ announces the opening of the main road the main road on D-Ring Road and the tunnel of Fereej Al Ali (Al Tadamon) Intersection to traffic. The main road has been developed and expanded up to 3.5 km, which will shorten about 70% of the journey time and achieve great traffic flow between the D-Ring Road and Doha Expressway. This road serves several areas such as Nuaija, Al Hilal, Old Airport and many commercial, educational and health facilities.
The opening includes the main road in addition to 3 intersections, which are Fereej Al Ali (Al Tadamon), Nuaija (the Mall) and the intersection known as the Lulu Intersection. Developmental works included an expansion of the number of lanes from 3 to 4 lanes in each direction, bringing the road capacity to about 16,000 vehicles per hour instead of 12,000 vehicles per hour.
The 1 km long Fereej Al Ali Intersection tunnel was also opened to provide a free traffic flow to road users coming from D-Ring Road and Doha Expressway. The new tunnel is expected to save about 50% of the journey time, as it consists of 3 lanes in each direction to bring its capacity up to about 12,000 vehicles per hour in both directions.
The project also includes developing rainwater drainage networks to raise the efficiency of drainage networks in the area, by constructing a tunnel to drain rainwater with a total length of about 3.5 km. Additionally, it includes developmental works for all infrastructure services, which have been updated for services such as water, electricity, drainage and communications networks.
Materials used for this project included 17,000 tons of steel reinforcement, 100,000 tons of asphalt and 105,000 m2 of concrete. Project works included digging 3.5 km of rainwater drainage tunnels, installing about 30 km of electricity networks, and providing 32 km of infrastructure services such as drainage and communications networks.
Eng. Yousef Al Emadi, Projects Affairs Manager, confirmed that Ashghal is keen to develop and establish an integrated road network as part of its plan that aims to achieve a developed highway network that links all areas in the country together.
He added, “The development of the D-Ring Road is an important link that integrates with developed roads such as Rawdat Al Khail Street, E-Ring Road, Mesaimeer Intersection and Najma Street that serve densely populated areas such as Al Hilal, the old airport and Nuaija, all the way to New Slata and Doha Expressway.”
Eng. Al Emadi explained that Ashghal has now relied on national products available in the market, noting that about 66% of locally made materials such as lighting poles, cables, rebar, drainage pipes, and others were used.
Eng. Bader Darwish, Highway Projects Department Manager, confirmed that D Ring works faced great challenges, as the road is located in the heart of Doha, linking traffic between Airport St. and Doha Expressway, crossing onto major streets such as the congested Najma & Rawdat Al Khail Streets and many vital businesses.
He added “the remaining works of the project, such as service roads, are being completed. In addition to the 4.5 km pedestrians and cycling lane on both sides of the D-Ring Road and landscaping works throughout the project.”
Eng. Mohammed Sami, from the Highway Projects Department, stated that new tunnel was built using pre-cast concrete and a new method to avoid obstructing traffic as works were implemented from top to bottom; starting with the roof of the tunnel and the supporting foundations, then excavation works
Eng. Abdulla Darwish, from the Highway Projects Department, stated that the project’s location being in the middle of commercial centers, schools and densely populated areas posed a great challenge. He pointed out that the project took about 5 million working-man hours without any injuries so far due to the health and safety measures implemented by the Public Works Authority ‘Ashghal’.
Lieutenant Khalid Al Mulla, representative of the General Directorate of Traffic, commented that the development of the D-Ring Road, especially the new tunnel, and the expansion of the number of lanes will enhance the traffic flow in the area, where there is a large traffic density, especially in front of road users coming from Doha Expressway towards D-Ring Road to Airport Street.
Abdulrahman Al Khulaifi, a member of the Municipal Council, said “the development work implemented on the D-Ring Road will serve the residents of Al Hilal, Old Airport and Nuaija areas. We would like to thank Ashghal for its cooperation in the completion of the project despite the great challenges that the project witnessed. “
Benefits of D-Ring Road Upgrading Project
In order to improve traffic at the main intersections of D-Ring Road to provide a free traffic flow, Ashghal increased the number of routes at both the Fereej Al Ali (Al Tadamon) Intersection and the Nuaija Intersection and provide free traffic at the intersection known as Lulu intersection, which will enhance the traffic capacity of the intersections and reduce traffic congestion in the area by opening the new tunnel, especially on the Fereej Al Ali (Al Tadamon) Intersection which currently witnesses heavy traffic volume.
The project works will also include the implementation of shared pedestrian and cycling lanes along the 4.5 km D-Ring Road on both sides, in addition to planting works throughout the project.
The Qatari heritage of the area surrounding the project, known as Rawdat Al Khail, was considered during the design phase of the tunnel, as murals inspired by the Qatari heritage were built inside the tunnel.
Development works on three intersections:
Fereej Al Ali (Al Tadamon) Intersection
The development works included the construction of a tunnel with three lanes in each direction to provide free traffic on D Ring Road. The traffic signal intersection has been improved, by increasing the number of lanes from three to four lanes in each direction at the intersection with Rawdat Al Khail Street, which will greatly increase the capacity of the intersection and provide a traffic flow.
Nuaija Intersection
The development works included improving the intersection by increasing the number of lanes on D-Ring Road to four lanes in each direction, thereby increasing the traffic capacity of the intersection.
Lulu Intersection
The development works included traffic signal intersection improvement, by allowing free flow of traffic coming from the Airport Road intersection, towards Fereej Al Ali Intersection along the D Ring Road while keeping the traffic signal in the other direction.