The Public
Works Authority ‘Ashghal’ announces the completion of a number of roads
projects, ahead of Eid Al-Adha and the new academic year, to reduce traffic
congestion.
Ashghal
announces that on Wednesday, August 30, 2017, Messila tunnel will be opened to
traffic, as part of Phase 2 of Al Rayyan Road Development Project, in addition
to the opening of Jassim bin Hamad Street, which is directly connected to Al
Rayyan Road that has been expanded. This is in addition to the partial opening
of the Old Traffic Roundabout, which is being converted to a signal-controlled
intersection.
This opening
is part of a series of upcoming openings in the coming days, which include the
opening of Ali bin Abi Talib Street, the TV and Sports Intersections, as well
as the two tunnels beneath the Pearl Interchange.
Messila
Tunnel, located under Al Rayyan Road, 800 metres to the west of the Olympic
Roundabout, is the first construction achievement in Phase 2 of Al Rayyan Road
Development Project.
The opened
part of the project includes the opening of 2 km of Al Rayyan Road with four
lanes in each direction, and Messila Tunnel which stretches under Al Rayyan
Road and links Jassim bin Hamad Street and Al Rayyan Road, including two lanes
in each direction. The tunnel also comprises an exit loop to and from Al Rayyan
Road and to Messila Tunnel with two lanes in each direction.
The project
also includes a U-turn above Messila Tunnel, as well as the entrances and
service roads linking Al Rayyan Road and Jassim bin Hamad Road.
The newly
opened two kilometer stretch of the main road has been expanded to four lanes
in each direction, which will increase the capacity of the road from 5,700
vehicles to 7,600 vehicles per hour, thus reducing congestion in that area,
especially with the opening of service roads and entrances that will facilitate
movement from Jassim bin Hamad Street to Al Rayyan Road and vice versa.
Messila
Tunnel will enable access from Dukhan, Bani Hajar and New Al Rayyan to Jassim
bin Hamad Street via the service road located east of Al Rayyan Road, and by using
the tunnel’s loop to reach Jassim bin Hamad Street. This was not possible
before the opening of Messila Tunnel, where those coming from Dukhan could not
reach Jassim bin Hamad Street through Al Rayyan Road.
The new
Tunnel will also facilitate the direct access from Madinat Khalifa to Al Rayyan
Road. In the past, travellers from Madinat Khalifa had to go through a number
of local roads and traffic diversions to reach the Olympic Roundabout, which is
a 20 minute journey.
Now after the
opening of Messila Tunnel, travellers can use the tunnel on Jassim bin Hamad
Street and take the loop to enter Al Rayyan Road and from it to the Olympic Roundabout
in about 8 minutes. This will shorten the journey time by 60% compared to the
use of internal roads and the previous traffic diversions.
The opening
of Messila Tunnel is considered the beginning of the construction achievements
in Phase 2 of Al Rayyan Road Development Project, which includes the
development of 5.5 km west of the Olympic Roundabout, to the west of Abdullah
bin Khalid Al Attiyah Roundabout. This is in addition to the development of 6
km of side roads and services related to the project.
The project
includes the construction of six multi-level interchanges: Al Rayyan Road
Intersection with Jassim bin Hamad Street, the first construction achievement
of the project, in addition to the fact that Messila Tunnel includes an
intersection with at grade traffic signals.
The interchanges also
include Al Rayyan Interchange, a four-level interchange, Al Rayyan intersection
with Al Bustan Street, three-level interchange, in addition to Lebayeh Interchange
with four levels, Khalid bin Abdullah Al Attiyah, three-level interchange and
old Al-Rayyan Interchange a two-level interchange. The project is planned to be
completed by the end of 2018.