The Public Works Authority ‘Ashghal’ continues working round the clock to facilitate public access to the stadiums of 24th Arabian Gulf Cup - Qatar 2019, scheduled to kick off on Tuesday, November 26, 2019.
Ashghal has escalated its performance level to the fullest executing all the tasks required to ensure safety of road users and spectators and to improve smooth traffic flow on road network around the three main venues of the tournament - Khalifa International Stadium, Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium (Al Duhail) and Al Janoub Stadium.
Ashghal is coordinating with all related entities for executing required work and is also monitoring the road and drainage network to ensure full success of the tournament.
Khalifa International Stadium
Operational and maintenance works around the stadium
Ashghal’s Roads Operation and Maintenance (ROM) team is working around the clock to facilitate the traffic management on the roads surrounding Khalifa International Stadium, and the main entrances and exits by installing more than 100 directional signs to guide the public to the parking lots based on their categories. In addition, Ashghal is using the dynamic signs to inform road users about the roads status and the event updates.
Moreover, Ashghal worked in coordination with the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy on a number of maps to be published on social media to guide road-users and spectators to the designated parking lots for each stadium, with the help of directional signs for public coming from different destinations, as Salwa Road, Muaither, South or Al Huwar.
Through the Roads Management Centre, Ashghal continues to monitor the road network round the clock to ensure that the roads surrounding the stadium are free of obstacles and to ensure smooth traffic flow.
To ensure the safety of pedestrians, a green fencing has been installed on Al Waab Street, to encourage pedestrians to use the pedestrian tunnel of Sports city metro station and cross the main road safely.
A study was carried out on road closures, traffic diversions and alternative road plans to facilitate the movement of individuals and vehicles during the tournament. All the necessary operational and emergency response plans have been completed and four teams are ready and equipped with the necessary machineries. In addition, emergency test scenarios and rapid intervention plan have been carried out.
Since August 2019, ROM department started to survey, study and test all available road assets around the stadium such as asphalt condition, directional signs, safety barriers, drainage assets, street lighting, pedestrian crossing, tunnels, and traffic signals. All the road projects being implemented around the stadium were inspected, surveyed and refurbished to ensure their readiness to use during the event.
This is in full coordination with the General Directorate of Traffic, the Qatar Football Association and the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy.
In addition, a series of routine explorations and tests were carried out at various locations round the clock during the days before the event to monitor the work developments required to ensure the success of the tournament.
Al Furousiya Street works completion:
Ashghal has opened Al Furousiya Street to traffic few weeks before the kick-off of the Arabian Gulf Cup, to facilitate the commuting of fans to Khalifa International Stadium.
The Street is also connected 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.
The completion of upgrading works on Al Furousiya Street has significantly enhanced the traffic flow and reduced the congestion in the area specially 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.
The scope of works included road and infrastructure works in addition to the installation of road signs and the planting of 900 trees covering 73,000 square meters of green areas along Al Furousiya Street.
The enhancement works also comprised the upgrading of the lighting system and the installation of 233 lighting poles as well as the construction of pedestrian and cycle paths with 5 meters width, to encourage a healthy lifestyle.
Sports City Street
Ashghal has implemented upgrading works on Sports City Street which facilitates access from and to Khalifa International Stadium through its direct connection to Al Waab Street.
Works included the development and expansion of Sports Street Intersection with Osama Bin Zaid Street and its intersection with Ammar Bin Yasser Street.
The two intersections were equipped with traffic signals and Intelligent Traffic Systems (ITS) to improve traffic flow and increase capacity on Sports City Street and the surrounding areas.
Main roads leading to the stadium:
Ashghal announced the opening of the 1500 meter Umm Al Jamajim Street in Murraikh to traffic to provide direct movement between the Furousiya Street and Al Waab Street through Al Khufoos Street, which will be used during the Arabian Gulf cup as a main access to the parking lots.
Worth to be mentioned that the Public Works Authority is still working on Sabah Al Ahmad Corridor that will extend for approximately 25 kilometres from Hamad International Airport to Umm Lekhba Interchange (known as Landmark Interchange) on Doha Expressway. The project includes build and upgrade of a number of interchanges and tunnels. Al Waab intersection is one of the vital intersections within the project. It will be transformed into a three-level intersection, and will include a bridge providing free traffic along the corridor, as well as two overhead bridges to link traffic between Al-Waab Street and the corridor, which will reduce congestion at Al Waab intersection.
Preparation to deal with rain
Ashghal continues monitoring the drainage network around the stadium to ensure its continuous and efficient operation, including cleaning of drainage manholes in and around the stadium to ensure that the stadium and its surroundings are free of rain accumulations during the event.
Teams have been recruited to provide support in case of rain, and the department will continuously monitor and respond to customer feedback in areas around Khalifa International Stadium.
Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium
(Al Duhail Stadium)
During the week before the start of the Arabian Gulf Cup, Ashghal installed more than 60 directional signs on the roads surrounding Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium (known as Duhail Stadium) to direct fans from different destinations to the stadium's parking lots.
Developed intersections to reach the stadium
Converting Al Tarfa Roundabout project (known as Golf Club Roundabout) into a signal-controlled intersection has improved traffic flow and increased the capacity of the intersection, while providing easy access to Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium.
Moreover, the three graded levels signalised Izghawa intersection now provides an ideal route to the stadium for the masses coming from Doha or North. The intersection also provides better access to local roads as well as alleviates traffic congestions at the north side of Doha Golf Club, West Bay, Legtaifiya, Al Khor Expressway and the north-western side of Lusail Development Project, in addition to providing local roads access to the area surrounding the stadium.
Main and local roads developed to facilitate access to Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium
The Arab League Street now allows the residential suburbs of Leabaib, Al Ebb, Wadi Al Banat, Al Kheesa and Jeryan Jenaihat to commute easily to Duhail Sports Club and Doha City. It also allows commuters to easily exit/enter Al Shamal Road.
The benefits of completing this project was reducing traffic congestion, cutting down on travelling distances and times, and providing safer commuting.
In addition, the development and expansion of Al Khafji Street also contributed to enhancing the capacity of the road and increasing traffic flow. The project included the conversion of three roundabouts, namely Jelaiah roundabout, Al-Markhiya roundabout and the Environment roundabout into signal-controlled intersections, and increasing the number of lanes from three to four on parts of Al-Khafji Street. This has enhanced the capacity of the road network around Al Duhail Club.
Improvements also included installing Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS), street lighting, developing drainage systems and, pedestrian and cycle paths.
Al Janoub Stadium
Ashghal has delivered a number of local roads, expressways and various infrastructure projects that serve Al Janoub Stadium facilities, in addition to developing new roads and upgrading existing roads to facilitate access to the stadium and its facilities.
The Southern Part of the Doha Express Highway project is considered one of the most important roads that directly connect to the stadium though Al Wukair Interchange, as it connects with Doha Expressway, Sabah Al Ahmad Corridor and G Ring Road on one end, and with Al Wukair Road, Mesaieed Road and Al Wakra Main Road on the other end.
This is in addition to the development of part of Al Wukair Road, which included an increase in the number of lanes from two to four lanes and the installation of traffic signals in the area between Al Wakra Hospital and Al Wukair Road’s intersection with Doha Expressway. The works done on the road facilitates the movement of traffic in the area and provides additional exits and entrances to the stadium,
In order to facilitate the fan commute from Al Wakrah Metro Station to Al Janoub Stadium, Ashghal has implemented 3.5 km long pedestrian and cycling tracks extending from Al Wakra metro station to the stadium, starting from Al Wakrah Street to pass through Najma Street extension and Al Wukair Road. The implementation of these tracks aims to enhance the movement and transportation of visitors and fans during the event.