QNA
Doha: The Public Works Authority ‘Ashghal’ announced the partial opening of three main bridges to the public on Al Khor Expressway project. The newly partially opened bridges are the first major milestone accomplished on Al Khor Expressway project, which is scheduled to be complete in Q4 2019, as the project progress reached 60 percent.
The 33 kilometre link strategically connects Al Khor to Doha via Lusail, Simaisma and Tinbak and Umm Garn areas.
Two of the three lanes in each direction of the bridge at the Simaisma Intersection were open to the public providing a free flow of traffic to road users coming from Al Shamal Road via Simaisma Road and heading to Simaisma. This opening will significantly enhance traffic movement in the area as it will remove the old diversion, considerably reduce travel time and increase efficiency.
As for the second bridge, two lanes out of three in each direction were opened to the public providing a direct link between Lusail and the Orbital Road & Truck Route. This vital bridge will allow road users coming from Al Shamal Road and the Orbital through Al Mazrooah Interchange to reach Lusail.
The third newly availed bridge, located at the interchange connecting Lusail city with Al Tarfa Road, also opened two of its three lanes to provide new travel options for road users coming from Al Shamal Road via Izghawa Interchange and the surrounding areas towards Doha and Lusail.
Ashghal’s Highway Projects Department Assistant Manager Bader Darwish stated that the project team are gearing up with construction works highlighting that these three bridges were opened to the public ahead of the scheduled time.
He also explained that Al Khor Expressway project is a key arterial road in Qatar parallel to Al Shamal Road and connecting to several major ring roads as well as the Orbital, noting that it will provide road users with a much easier access to 15 residential areas and key business, leisure, service and sport areas.
In November 2016, the Public Works Authority launched the construction works to upgrade Al Khor Expressway providing it with 5 lanes in each direction in addition to 2 emergency lanes on a 33-kilometre stretch between Al Khor Road and Qatar University Street in Doha, and improve the safety as well as the vehicle capacity. Unlike the previous two-lane layout, which only accommodates 4000 vehicles per hour, the project’s 5 lanes’ capacity will be expanded to accommodate 10,000 vehicles per hour.
As part of the works remit on al Khor Expressway, the project design comprises a wide central median to accommodate the railways’ Red Line, which will connect Al Khor to Doha with its two main stations. In addition, the project will deliver a unique 34 km of fast cycle track and 33 km of combined pedestrians and cyclists’ paths on the other side of the road in addition to 42 pedestrians and cyclists’ underpasses. (QNA)
