In an important step towards providing a safe and developed road that links Salwa Road to Dukhan Highway, the Public Works Authority ‘Ashghal’ announced completion of the first and second phases of Rawdat Rashed Road Development Project, stretching for 20 kilometres. Ashghal started implementing the two phases in Q1 of 2015 as part of its Local Roads and Drainage Programme.

The road has opened to traffic on the morning of Sunday 23 October 2016 in the presence of Eng. Saoud Ali Al-Tamimi, Manager of Roads Projects Department at Ashghal, Mr. Sager bin Fahad Al-Muraikhi, member of the Shura Council and Head of the General Facilities and Services Committee in the Council, Mr. Mohammed Saif Tashal Al-Hajri, Manager of Al Sheehaniya Municipality, Mr. Rashid Taleb Al-Nabit, Manager of Land Transport Planning Department at the Ministry of Transport and Communications, as well as Brig. Mohammed Marafiya, Director of Traffic Safety and Engineering Department at the Traffic Police Department of the Ministry of Interior, Mr. Khalid Abdullah Al-Ghali Al-Marri, member of the Central Municipal Council for the twenty-second constituency and Mr. Mohammed Dhafer Al-Hajri member of the Municipal Council for the twenty-third constituency. Local dignitaries also attended including Mr. Said bin Sager Al-Muraikhi and Mr. Rashid bin Salim Al-Muraikhi.

The first and second phases of Rawdat Rashed Road Development Project included the construction of a road consisting of three lanes in each direction. In phase one, the road stretches from Salwa Road for a distance of 8.5 km towards the north, and intersects with the main roundabout that connects the southern side of Rawdat Rashid Village. Phase two starts from the end of phase one towards the north for a distance of 12 km bypassing Rawdat Rashed Village. In addition, eight intersections (roundabouts) were constructed within the two phases.

Phase one of Rawdat Rashed Road Development Project was implemented by “ALCAT Contracting Company” with a total cost of approximately 182 million Qatari Riyals, while the phase two was implemented by “Bin Omran Trading & Contracting Company” with a total cost of approximately 208 million Qatari Riyals. The two phases were implemented under the supervision of the project consultant “AECOM Middle East”.

It is worth mentioning that phases one and two are part of the main project to develop Rawdat Rashed Road, which has been divided into five different phases in an aim to facilitate the implementation of works and to minimise the impact of construction works on the area’s residents and visitors. The project is located perpendicular to Salwa Road towards the north, bypassing Rawdat Rashed area to Dukhan Highway with a total length of approximately 33 km.

The third phase of the project, which is to be constructed, starts at the end of phase two and extends for a distance of 13 km northbound to the intersection between Lebsayyer Road and Dukhan Highway. Phases four and five will include improving the connection between Rawdat Rashed Road and the existing bridges on Salwa and Dukhan Highways.

The project aims to provide a network of safe and developed roads to link Salwa Road with Dukhan Highway, in addition to increasing the road capacity by increasing the number of lanes and allocating the right lane for heavy vehicles. This is addition to providing high-tech lighting systems which will ensure traffic safety for road users and will serve the citizens and residents in this area. The project will also link the current and future developments to key areas in the country; providing a comprehensive future coverage of all roads in the vital areas of the country.

One of the most important upgrades that is being implemented within the project is diverting the heavy vehicle traffic away from the residential area, which is currently passing through Rawdat Rashed area. This is in addition to separating the main traffic movement from the traffic of local roads in Rawdat Rashed residential area, which will have a positive impact on all residents and visitors of the area.

Rawdat Rashed Road Development Project is part of Ashghal’s Local Roads and Drainage Programme, which includes dozens of development projects that aim at providing an integrated infrastructure for new areas in addition to improving and developing the infrastructure facilities of existing areas.