E-Ring Road bridge to boost pedestrian safety

As part of its efforts to enhance road safety across Qatar,  Ashghal yesterday successfully installed the steel structure of the pedestrian bridge across E- Ring Road, between Al-Thumama Intersection and the intersection where it meets the Airport Street.The bridge, expected to be operational in the second quarter of this year, is being erected to minimise accidents and enable pedestrians to cross the E-Ring Road. It is expected to facilitate the movement from the Mathar Qadheem area and commercial establishments in Al Rawda area.The 66m-long and 4m-wide pedestrian bridge is equipped with elevators on both sides which can accommodate a large number of users including those with special needs.The bridge is also equipped with lighting systems, a closed-circuit television system (CCTV), fire detection and firefighting systems, as well as a pedestrian counter, it has been pointed out. The authorities have said Ashghal is continuing the implementation of mechanical and engineering works on the pedestrian bridge in collaboration with the implementing companies, in order to give final touches. With the aim of maintaining the privacy of some residents whose houses are visible from the pedestrian bridge, Ashghal is working in co-operation with the authorities concerned to provide a number of tall trees that will block the vision of pedestrians towards those houses.The pedestrian bridge is part of the interim upgrade project on E-Ring Road and Najma Street, which is implemented within Ashghal’s plan to develop the roads infrastructure and enhance traffic safety. Over 90% of road works in the project are complete so far. The project includes developing 3km of Najma Street (from Nuaija Intersection towards the F-Ring Road), including re-aligning and widening the street, and constructing two new signalised intersections between Al Hadara Street and Najma Street, and between Oqba bin Nafea Street and Najma Street.The project also includes developing around 3.3km of E-Ring Road, including re-aligning and widening the road which had a range of two to three lanes to include four lanes in each direction.This is in addition to converting Al Thumama roundabout to a signalised intersection and upgrading the signalised intersection between the Airport Street and E-Ring Road by providing a separate U-turn lane and two separate lanes for those heading to the airport and Al Wakrah Roads.Several infrastructure improvements are provided by the project, such as developing the drainage networks, constructing an integrated drainage network for surface water (stormwater), protecting high volt electric lines in the area and diverting some of those lines.