Qatar’s North Road Corridor Enhancement project, a major component of the Public Works Authority’s (Ashghal) Expressway programme, has received a boost with Al Kharaitiyat Interchange opening to traffic.

If the old junction with a single two-lane bridge catered to 4,000 vehicles per hour, the new interchange with eight bridges and flyovers, with three to four lanes in each direction, has increased traffic capacity to 16,000 vehicles per hour.

“Ashghal was keen on recreating the critical Al Kharaitiyat Interchange to enable bigger road capacity and better traffic access for the residents in the neighbouring areas, namely, Al Kharaitiyat, Al Ebb, and Leabib, and the nearby business facilities and providing alternative routes for road users travelling from and into Al Shamal Road,” the authority explained in a statement.

The upgraded interchange serves as a main access point on the North Road, linking the areas in the eastern side like Al Ebb, Leabib, Lusail, Arab League Street leading to Qatar University, Al Dafna, Al Khor Coastal Road and the nearby vital commercial destinations.

It has, also, a direct link with the western areas of Al Kharaitiyat, Bani Hajer, Al Wajba, Al Rayyan and Al Rufaa Street leading to Dukhan Highway and Al Jahhaniya Interchange with a view of several critical business facilities. The junction can receive around 11,000 vehicles per hour, which alone are coming from Al Rufaa Street.

“Al Kharaitiyat Interchange is so critical that it connects with all areas around in the east, west, north and south,” Expressway Department engineer Yousef al-Emadi said while stressing that is also a free-flowing junction without road signals or roundabouts making it easier and faster for road users.

Ashghal also installed lights along the bridges, entrances and exits and placing all necessary signage for better traffic safety, as part of Ashghal’s traffic safety strategy.

The newly upgraded junction opens after the completion of a series of other major milestone, including Umm Slal Mohamed Interchange, Izghawa Interchange and the bridge linking Al Huwaila road to the North Road, Al Khor Link Road (from Al Shamal Road to Ras Laffan Roundabout at Al Khor), Umm Birka Road. The enhancements also feature lines for potable water and treated sewage effluent as well as foot and cycle paths.

The opening yesterday was attended by Ashghal’s Infrastructure Affairs director engineer Mohamed Masoud al-Marri, Traffic Engineering and Safety official Brigadier Mohamed Maarifiya, Umm Slal Municipality representative Mohamed al-Suhouti, Central Municipality Council member Ali Nasser al-Kaabi and a number of project engineers.

Al-Kaabi was all praise for Ashghal. “Whenever passing by, I used to see work progressing round-the-clock to complete the junction on schedule, and they did it.”

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