The highest and seventh bridge of the Umm Lekhba Interchange (Landmark) will be opened to traffic Friday, the Public Works Authority (Ashghal) has said. The 1-km long bridge, part of Sabah Al Ahmad Corridor project, will provide free flow traffic for road users coming from Al Shamal Road towards Al Markhiya Street.


Another view of the highest and seventh bridge of the Umm Lekhba Interchange


Road users coming from Al Shamal and heading towards Al Markhiya will now have direct access instead of making a U-turn at Immigration Interchange

“The new bridge is the highest bridge at this vital interchange and the second highest flyover in Qatar after Umm Besher Interchange flyover,” an Ashghal statement explained.
With a height of about 30m, the bridge consists of one lane to accommodate about 2,000 vehicles per hour significantly reducing the travel time for road users from the North in the direction of Al Markhiya Street without the need to use the Al Gharrafa Intersection (Immigration Intersection).


Ashghal has planted around 800 trees along the new Al Hatim Street in Al Gharrafa area, in addition to shrubs and lawns across 80,000sqm



A view of a bicycle path on the east side of the new Al Hatim Street in Al Gharrafa area

Ashghal has so far opened pedestrian and bicycle paths and beautification elements on the east side of the new Al Hatim Street in the Al Gharrafa area. With a length of about 6km, the paths spread over an area of about 70,000sqm. Around 800 trees were planted along the street, in addition to shrubs and lawns across 80,000sqm. In addition, 22 bicycle racks and 18 benches have been provided along the street.
Ali Saeed Ibrahim, project engineer at Highway Project Department, said the new opening on Umm Lekhba Interchange will provide free traffic flow from the North towards Al Markhiya. This will significantly reduce traffic pressure on Al Shamal Road (22 February Street) especially on Al Gharrafa Interchange as road users coming from Al Shamal and heading towards Al Markhiya will now have direct access instead of making a U-turn at Immigration Interchange.
The Umm Lekhba Interchange is considered to be the northern gateway of Doha and a 'distribution station' due to its strategic location where Al Shamal Road intersects with the Doha Expressway, Al Markhiya Street and Sabah Al Ahmad Corridor and witnesses heavy traffic to and from Doha via Al Shamal.
Umm Lekhba Interchange consists of four levels and nine bridges that provide free traffic flow in all directions. It can accommodate more than 20,000 vehicles per hour. Five bridges consist of two lanes in one direction while the other four bridges include one lane in one direction. The interchange is the second highest interchange in Qatar after the interchange of Umm Besher on the G-Ring Road.
Umm Lekhba Interchange will ease the traffic congestion on Doha Expressway, especially at Al Gharrafa (Immigration) Interchange and Al Duhail intersections. It will also ensure smooth traffic flow for those coming from Doha Corniche, Markhiya, Madinat Khalifa and Duhail in the direction of Al Shamal Road, Sabah Al Ahmad Corridor, Al Gharrafa and Gharrafat Al Rayyan areas to Al Luqta and Al Rayyan.
The area is densely populated and serve as a commercial hub that also has government entities, educational and health facilities. The bridges provide nine arteries that provide free traffic flow in nine directions, in addition to free traffic on Al Shamal Road as well as the underpass of the old interchange linking Al Markhiya Street and Sabah Al Ahmad Corridor.
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