The Public Works Authority (Ashghal) has made one more giant leap in its race towards opening the prestigious Sabah Al Ahmad Corridor.

Ashghal on Wednesday announced that a new 850m-long bridge will be partially opened on Friday at Al Luqta on Sabah Al-Ahmad Corridor. With the opening, two lanes from Al Luqta towards Al Rayyan and from Al Rayyan to Al Luqta will be available for traffic.

The new bridge, according to a statement from Ashghal, will ease congestion in the area ensuring free traffic flow from Al Gharrafa and Al Luqta towards Al Waab and Al Rayyan. The bridge will also establish a direct link between these areas.

The new bridge with four lanes will go fully functional by 2020 remarkably bringing down traffic congestion and reducing travel time by 60% between the areas. The bridge will accommodate more than 16,000 vehicles per hour in each direction.

While announcing the partial opening, Ashghal project engineer Ali Ibrahim said the new development is one of the key milestones of the construction works of Sabah Al Ahmad Corridor. “The bridge facilitates easy access to Al Rayyan Road and Khalifa Avenue,” he said.

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, had launched Sabah Al Ahmad Corridor project on February 24 this year.

Described as the first of its kind in Qatar, Sabah Al Ahmad Corridor assumes much importance. With a total length of 25km from Hamad International Airport to Umm Lekhba Interchange (known as Landmark Interchange) and works at a total area of 37km, the corridor is expected to be opened in 2021.

The corridor will have the first cable-stayed bridge in Qatar as well as the largest intersection, longest bridge and deepest and longest bi-directional tunnel. It will establish a direct link among more than 25 residential areas and facilitate easy access to five 2022 FIFA World Cup stadiums.

As part of the project, E Ring, F Ring, Mesaimeer, Al Bustan, Bu Erayyen, Lebday roads and sections of Al Markhiya Street will be upgraded. The project will link southern parts of the country with northern Qatar by developing Doha Expressway (Al Wakrah Bypass).

Ashghal has started the construction of the cable-stayed bridge. The 1,200m-long bridge that extends prior to Haloul Roundabout through Faleh Bin Nasser intersection on Salwa Road is set up as part of the project. And it’s aimed at ensuring 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 an hour.

All roundabouts will be converted into more efficient and safer signallised junctions. Besides, 17 interchanges will be upgraded. These interchanges will have 32 bridges, 12 vehicular underpasses and 12 pedestrian bridges that will enhance connectivity and provide smooth traffic movement. 65km of pedestrian and cycle paths along with 1.5mn sqm of landscaping will be also be carried.

The corridor also offers easy access to some of Doha Metro stations including the Economic Zone, Al Waab and Old Rayyan.

Related Story