Construction of Qatar’s first cable-stayed bridge begins

*A 48-hour partial closure of Faleh Bin Nasser Intersection on Salwa Road from tonight*An 8-month partial closure of Faleh Bin Nasser Intersection on Salwa Road from April 21*Qatar’s first cable-stayed bridge to be ready in the first quarter of 2021* Haloul Intersection to be ready in 2020

The Public Works Authority (Ashghal) has started the construction of Qatar’s first Cable-Stayed Bridge and the conversion of Haloul Roundabout into a two-level interchange as part of Sabah Al-Ahmad Corridor project.

The 1,200m long bridge will extend prior to Haloul Roundabout through Faleh Bin Nasser Intersection on Salwa Road to provide free traffic flow between Hamad International Airport and the areas of Bu Hamour, Mesaimeer and Al Waab.

With four lanes in each direction, the bridge will accommodate more than 16,000 vehicles a hour. In a statement on Wednesday, Ashghal's engineer Abdullah al-Naiemi said construction of the bridge will be completed in the first quarter of 2021 while the Haloul Intersection will be ready in 2020.

“The bridge that is to pass over Haloul intersection as well as Faleh Bin Nasser intersection on Salwa Road will ease the congestion in the vital area significantly,” he explained.

As per the plan, Haloul Roundabout will be revamped into a two-level interchange, including an 'at-grade' signallised intersection along with the free-flow cable-stayed bridge.

Once complete, the signallised intersection will consist of six lanes in each direction including two right turns to the left and one for U-turn. The intersection will help the traffic in all directions to connect Sabah Al Ahmad Corridor to Haloul Street and Salwa Road. The bridge will serve Bu Hamour and Al Mamoura and bring a boost to the Wholesale Market and commercial places on Salwa Road.

The Ashghal engineer said the bridge will be without pylons for a distance of 150m, but cables instead for support. Considering the length of the bridge, the construction will require 854 precast reinforced concrete pieces, each weighing 200 tonnes, and 20 pylons and 16 piers to reach the highest point of 30m.

Sabah Al Ahmad Corridor extends for about 25km from Hamad International Airport to Umm Lekhba Interchange (known as Landmark Interchange) on Doha Expressway. Parts of the Corridor, such as Al Watiyatt Interchange as well as Al Rayyan Tunnel, which is Qatar's longest and deepest, are already complete.

The Sabah Al Ahmad Corridor project was launched on February 24 this year by HE the Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani and Sheikh Nasser al-Mohamed al-Ahmad al-Sabah, representative of Kuwait Amir Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah.

The first Corridor in Qatar, scheduled for completion in 2021, will provide access to more than 25 residential areas and facilitate access to five 2022 FIFA World Cup stadiums.

Partial Closures

Ashghal has announced partial closure of Faleh Bin Nasser Intersection on Salwa Road from tonight for 48 hours to allow construction works on Sabah Al Ahmad Corridor. Traffic movement through Sabah Al Ahmad Corridor are allowed while right turns are open. Road users heading and coming from Doha have been can take right turn at Faleh Bin Nasser Intersection, make a U-turn at around 250m and then turn right to get back on Salwa Road. Road users coming from Mesaimeer Road towards Bu Samra and from Sabah Al Ahmad Corridor towards Doha have been told to continue straight through Faleh Bin Nasser Intersection for 250m and then turn right to get back on Salwa Road.

Ashghal has also announced partial closure of Faleh Bin Nasser Interchange 'at-grade' for traffic on Salwa Road from April 21 morning for eight months in order to allow construction works of the bridge on Sabah Al Ahmad Corridor.

During the closure period designed in co-ordination with the General Directorate of traffic, road users have been requested to make use of alternative routes as shown in the map. Traffic on Salwa Road heading and coming from Doha can take right turn at Faleh bin Nasser Interchange, take U-turn at around 250m and then turn right to get back on Salwa Road.

Ashghal will install road signs advising motorists of the traffic change. Road users should abide by the speed limit and follow the road signs to ensure safety.

Overview of Sabah Al Ahmad Corridor

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