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Ashghal > Home > Media Hub > Press Releases Ashghal opens the traffic signal on Al Waab Interchange to traffic

Ashghal Opens The Traffic Signal on Al Waab Interchange to Traffic

8/31/2020

Opening the traffic signal on Al Waab Interchange to traffic

​Coinciding with the start of the new school year, the Public Works Authority ‘Ashghal’ announces the opening of the traffic signal at Al Waab Interchange as part of Sabah Al Ahmad Corridor project works. Work is underway to complete the rest of the bridging works on the vital interchange after converting it from a traffic signal to an intersection of three levels to improve traffic in the area.

The opening will enhance traffic movement in all directions, especially on Al Waab Street and Sabah Al Ahmad Corridor, as the old intersection was expanded from five lanes to six lanes, in addition to right turns, to accommodate about 10,000 vehicles per hour.

The intersection will facilitate traffic movement to many important roads such as Doha Expressway, Salwa Road and Sabah Al Ahmad Corridor, it will also provide a traffic flow to Al Waab, Fereej Al Soudan, Al Sadd and Mehairja areas to reach Al Rayyan and Muaither where there are many different schools, educational and health facilities in addition to residential complexes and malls. The interchange will also facilitate access to a number of sports facilities such as Khalifa International Stadium, Jassim bin Hamad Stadium (Al Sadd), Ali bin Hamad Al Attiyah Arena and Aspire Zone, as well as the  metro stations for the nearby gold line, such as Al Soudan Station and Al Waab Station.

Ashghal is currently working on completing the entire interchange and opening other parts of it soon. The interchange consists of three levels of traffic signals on Al Waab Street, and three bridges, to include a main bridge linking the incoming traffic on Sabah Al Ahmad Corridor between Al Rayyan and Al Waab, which is the longest bridge in Qatar, with a length of 2.6 km. The interchange also includes a bridge that connects traffic on Al Waab Street coming from Al Sadd and Doha Expressway towards Sabah Al Ahmad Corridor to Salwa Road, in addition to another bridge linking traffic coming from Muaither and Al Aziziya to Sabah Al Ahmad Corridor in the direction of Al Rayyan.

On this occasion, Engineer Mohammad Sami, from the Highway Projects Department, confirmed that the opening of the traffic signals at Al Waab Interchange coincides with the start of the new academic year to facilitate traffic movement in front of the surrounding schools, pointing out that the rest of the interchange will open during the year 2020, he explained that the new interchange will facilitate the access of metro users to the golden line, especially the stations of Al Soudan and Al Waab, which coincides with the start of the metro's operation.

Overview of Sabah Al Ahmad Corridor

Sabah Al Ahmad Corridor will extend for approximately 25 kilometres from Hamad International Airport to Umm Lekhba Interchange (known as Landmark Interchange) on Doha Expressway. In addition, Ashghal will enhance 12 kilometres of local and peripheral roads intersecting with the Corridor. The total road works of the project is approximately 37 kilometres.

“Delivering traffic relief in Doha”

Once completed in 2021, Sabah Al Ahmad Corridor will significantly contribute to the relief of traffic congestion on Doha Expressway in particular, 22 February Street. The new Corridor will be a vital alternative and parallel route that will serve thousands of daily commuters from the north to the south of Doha. Commuters travelling from Hamad International Airport will be able to reach Umm Lekhba Intersection in approximately 18 minutes compared to the current 50 minutes via Doha Expressway and 22 February Street reducing traffic time by 70%.

The new Corridor will also form a vital link between the north and the south of Doha through Al Watiyyat Interchange, at F Ring Road, which will constitute a key point to accommodate traffic to both Sabah Al Ahmad Corridor and Doha Expressway. This interchange will also create a vital connection between Doha Expressway and Southern Part of Doha Express Highway (Al Wakra Bypass) as well as to Mesaieed Road further south.

The current road layout holds up to three (3) lanes in each direction, which will be upgraded to between four (4) and five (5) lanes in each direction. This expansion will accommodate approximately 20,000 vehicles per hour in both directions on the Corridor while Doha Expressway currently accommodates 12,000 vehicles per hour, which will significantly improve traffic movements in the surrounding areas.

The project will convert all roundabouts to more efficient and safer signalised junctions as well as build and upgrade 17 interchanges. These interchanges will deliver 32 bridges and 12 vehicular underpasses to enhance connectivity and provide smooth traffic movements in addition to 12 pedestrian bridges.

65 kilometres of pedestrian and cycle paths along with 1.5 million square metre of landscaping will also be delivered as part of the project’s scope of works.

Residential Areas and Main Roads

The new Corridor is a major link facilitating connections to 15 main roads namely Al Wakra Road, Ras Bu Abboud Road, E Ring Road, F Ring Road, Industrial Road, Salwa Road, Al Rayyan Road, Al Waab Street, Al Luqta Street, Al Markhiya Street, Doha Highway and Khalifa Avenue. It will serve 25 densely populated residential areas such as Al-Thumama, Al Nuaija, Bu Hamour, Al Waab, Al Rayyan, Al Luqta, Al Gharrafa, etc.

World Cup Stadiums

Sabah Al Ahmad Corridor will facilitate access to most of the World Cup FIFA 2022 stadiums including Ras Bu Abboud, Al Thumama, Al Wakra, Khalifa International and Qatar Foundation Stadiums.

Qatar Rail

The Corridor provides easy access to some of Doha Metro stations such as the Economic Zone, Al Waab and Old Rayyan.