Public Works Authority Ashghal is establishing a network of roads to facilitate traffic movement during the World Cup in 2022 in coordination with all concerned entities in Qatar to ensure the integration of all Ashghal projects with the various facilities serving the World Cup, such as, Metro stations, bus stations, commercial and tourist areas, fan zones, parks and gardens, which will provide visitors with a great experience during their stay for the World Cup in Qatar.

Commuting from Doha to Al Wakra now, does not necessarily require passing through Al Wakra main road, since there are new alternative routes like G-Ring Road, and the southern part of Doha Express Highway, Najma street extension, in addition to the construction of other upgraded roads that connect commuters from the north, such as Al Majd Road, and other roads facilitating commuters from the south such as Mesaieed Road and Hamad Port Road.

Ashghal has substantially completed the construction works of all expressways adjacent to Al Wakra stadium during 2017 and 2018, including the southern part of Doha Express Highway and G-Ring Road, since these roads facilitate traffic movement from Doha and the southern regions towards the stadium, especially that these news roads can accommodate higher traffic volumes that reach over 20,000 vehicles per hour in both directions.

The G Ring Road is a newly constructed vital road that has significantly enhanced traffic movement between Doha and the southern areas. It extends for 22 kilometers from Hamad International Airport to Al Majd Road. The project has delivered a five-lane link in each direction with 7 multi-level interchanges connecting several residential and commercial areas such as the Industrial Area, Logistics Village, Barwa City, Barwa Village along with multiple areas in the southern Doha region.

The road facilitates access to 2022 FIFA World Cup stadiums such as Al Wakra Stadium where Umm Besher Interchange will enable road users coming from G Ring Road to get on the Southern Part of Doha Express Highway and reach Al Wukair Interchange which directly serves Al Wakra Stadium.

The Southern Part of the Doha Express Highway project is considered one of the most important roads that directly connect to Al Wakra 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.

The opening of the Southern Part of Doha Express Highway in 2017 added an additional alternative route between Al Wakra, Al Wukair, Al Meshaf areas and Doha, due to its connectivity to arterial roads such as G Ring Road, F Ring Road and Al Majd Road, which significantly facilitates the access to Hamad International Airport, Hamad Port, Doha and southern areas such as Mesaieed City. The roads opening has made a tangible difference to traffic movement due to the added traffic volume capacity enhancement compared to Al Wakra Main Road that currently includes only two lanes in each direction. Road users are now able to reach their destinations bypassing Al Wakra City. The project has also delivered a 67-kilometer cycle and pedestrian paths.

In May 2018, Ashghal launched construction works to upgrade 9 kilometres of Al Wakra Main Road. The project will deliver three lanes in each direction including an underpass that will span between Al Wakra City and Doha. The projects design allows for a wide central median that will accommodate Qatar red line metro (Qatar Rail), which will connect Al Wakra to Doha with its two main stations of Ras Bu Funtas and Al Wakra. The project will also deliver 6.1 kilometres of combined pedestrian and cycle paths.

Al Wukair Road for its part is considered a vital addition to the roads network, providing a 13-kilometre stretch of road, significantly upgraded to provide dual four (4) lanes capable of accommodating 8,000 vehicles per hour in each direction as opposed to the previous configuration of one (1) lane in each direction. The road consists of two (2) multi-level interchanges providing free flow traffic in all directions.

Ashghal's achievements in implementing the highways leading to Al Wakra Stadium from all over Qatar extended to include the development of local roads in Wakra and Al Wukair area that serve the stadium through a series of projects.

Development works also include upgrading the road leading to Al Wakra Central Market and the new Al Wakra Road, Packages 5 and 7, with a total length of 23 km, which provides direct connection with Al Wakra Stadium and is one of the most direct routes for those coming from Doha or Al Wakra.

The authority also completed 1.7 km of Sheikh Saud Bin Abdel Rahman Street, under the Roads and Infrastructure of West Al Mashaf project. This street will link New Al Wakra road with Interchange 10 of Doha Express Highway (Al Wakra Bypass). This street is an alternative route for drivers coming from North and heading towards the stadium.

Ashghal has also completed the construction of Al Meera Junction and Aba Al Heeran street, which lead to Al Wakra main road. Additionally, the construction of rising main and foul sewer pumping station to serve the stadium and the surrounding area as part of the Roads and Infrastructure for Government Residential Division Project in North of Wukair was also completed.

As part of Ashghal's plan to provide alternative means of transportation within and outside Doha, and in line with the country's general plan to promote sport, Ashghals Supervisory Committee of Beautification of Roads & Public Places in the Country, has developed cycling and pedestrian tracks in most local roads and expressway projects, enabling road users to access their destinations easily and safely. These tracks connect to all World Cup stadiums as well as Fan Zones, commercial areas, fan residences, and Hamad International Airport. It also connects to bus stations and the metro network, as well as Park and Ride and Park and Walk services.

In order to facilitate the fan commute from Al Wakrah Metro Station to Al Wakrah Stadium, Ashghal has implemented 3.5 km long pedestrian and cycling tracks extending from the metro station to the stadium, starting from Al Wakrah Street to pass through Najma Street extension and Al Wukair Road, within two months.

In coordination with the General Directorate of Traffic and Qatar Football Association (QFA) and the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy (SCDL), Ashghal contributes to easing traffic management on the roads surrounding the stadium through a number of directional signs that lead people to the parking plots with its different categories, in addition to mobile overhead gantry with supplementary signs to lead the road users.

An integrated team has been established by the Roads Operation and Maintenance Department at Ashghal since February 2019 to survey, study and test all available road assets such as asphalt condition, road signs, safety barriers, drainage assets, street lighting, pedestrian crossings, tunnels, traffic signs, etc., to ensure the readiness of these assets, in cooperation with all partners.

Source: QNA

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Binu Cherian

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