Ashghal opens Fereej Al Ali Intersection tunnel to traffic

The Public Works Authority (Ashghal) has opened the main road on D-Ring Road and the tunnel of Fereej Al Ali (Al Tadamon) Intersection to traffic.
The main road has been developed and expanded up to 3.5 km, which will shorten about 70 percent of the journey time and achieve smooth traffic flow between the D-Ring Road and Doha Expressway.
This road serves several areas such as Nuaija, Al Hilal, Old Airport and many commercial, educational and health facilities.
The opening includes the main road in addition to 3 intersections, which are Fereej Al Ali (Al Tadamon), Nuaija (the Mall) and the intersection known as the Lulu Intersection.
Developmental works included an expansion of the number of lanes from 3 to 4 lanes in each direction, bringing the road capacity to about 16,000 vehicles per hour instead of 12,000 vehicles per hour.
The one- km long Fereej Al Ali Intersection tunnel was also opened to provide a free traffic flow to road users coming from D-Ring Road and Doha Expressway.
The new tunnel is expected to save about 50 percent of the journey time, as it consists of 3 lanes in each direction to bring its capacity up to about 12,000 vehicles per hour in both directions.
The project also includes developing rainwater drainage networks by constructing a tunnel to drain rainwater with a total length of about 3.5 km. Additionally, it includes developmental works for infrastructure services, such as water, electricity, drainage and communications. Materials used for this project included 17,000 tonnes of steel reinforcement, 100,000 tonnes of asphalt and 105,000 m2 of concrete.
Project works included digging 3.5 km of rainwater drainage tunnels, installing about 30 km of electricity networks, and providing 32 km of infrastructure services such as drainage and communications networks.
Projects Affairs Manager Eng Yousef Al Emadi confirmed that Ashghal is keen to develop and establish an integrated road network as part of its plan that aims to achieve a developed highway network that links all areas in the country together.
He added that the development of the D-Ring Road is an important link that integrates with developed roads such as Rawdat Al Khail Street, E-Ring Road, Mesaimeer Intersection and Najma Street that serve densely populated areas such as Al Hilal, the old airport and Nuaija, all the way to New Slata and Doha Expressway.
Eng Al Emadi explained that Ashghal has now relied on national products available in the market, noting that about 66 percent of locally made materials such as lighting poles, cables, rebar, drainage pipes, and others were used.
Highway Projects Department Manager Eng Bader Darwish confirmed that D Ring works faced great challenges, as the road is located in the heart of Doha, linking traffic between Airport St and Doha Expressway, crossing onto major streets such as the congested Najma & Rawdat Al Khail Streets and many vital businesses.
He added that the remaining works of the project, such as service roads, are being completed. In addition to the 4.5 km pedestrians and cycling lane on both sides of the D-Ring Road and landscaping works throughout the project.
Eng. Abdulla Darwish, from the Highway Projects Department, stated that the project’s location being in the middle of commercial centers, schools and densely populated areas posed a great challenge.
He pointed out that the project took about 5 million working-man hours without any injuries so far due to the health and safety measures implemented by Ashghal.
Representative of the General Directorate of Traffic Lieutenant Khalid Al Mulla commented that the development of the D-Ring Road, especially the new tunnel, and the expansion of the number of lanes will enhance the traffic flow in the area, where there is a large traffic density, especially in front of road users coming from Doha Expressway towards D-Ring Road to Airport Street.
He added that the new road facilitates access to residential and commercial areas, as well as Al Thumama Stadium, the most important stadiums for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, as it is an important artery to reach the stadium as an alternative to the Sabah Al-Ahmad Corridor.