DOHA: The Public Works Authority (Ashghal) opened Duhail Al Gharrafa Bridge and parts of traffic signals within Duhail Interchange Development Project on Shamal Road, six months ahead of schedule.
Ashghal stated the rest of the Duhail Interchange project is scheduled to open in September next year, 18 months from the start of works on the project.
Duhail Al Gharrafa Bridge will provide free-flow traffic between Al Khafaji Street and Al Gharrafa Street and cut travel time by 95 per cent between West Bay, Al Markhiya, Madinat Khalifa and Duhail towards Gharrafat Al Rayyan, Al Gharrafa and Al Rayyan areas. The newly opened bridge consists of a 400-metre three-lane dual carriageway to accommodate about 12,000 vehicles per hour on both sides.
In addition to Duhail Al Gharrafa Bridge, parts of traffic signals under North Bridge are also open. Commuters from Shamal can directly access Duhail and West Bay through Al Khafaji Street and vice versa. Similarly, commuters from Al Gharrafa can directly reach North Road and vice versa. Commuters along Al Gharrafa Street, Al Khafaji Street and Shamal Road can take a U-turn after the opening of all U-turn exits on all streets.
Due to its vital location at the northern gate of Doha city on Shamal Road, the new openings on Duhail Interchange would provide alternate routes to many schools and educational facilities in the surroundings, including Qatar University, North Atlantic College and Education City.
This opening would also provide alternate traffic routes at Izghawa Interchange on one hand and Umm Lekhba Interchange on the other, which is being developed within the Sabah Al Ahmad Corridor project, resulting in reduced traffic congestion on two vital interchanges.
Yousef Al Emadi, Director of Projects Affairs, Ashghal, said project works are going on without interruptions despite the blockade or Covid-19. Bader Darwish, Manager, Highway Projects Department, Ashghal said the new bridge is to shorten distance and save travel time by more than 95 per cent after renovation of Duhail Interchange. Previously, road users had to use the congested signalised Duhail Roundabout.
Assistant Project Manager Sheikha Al Mansoori said 75 per cent of works on the Duhail Interchange development project have been completed in record time and remaining works are in full swing to end the project next year.
Locally made materials, including asphalt amounting to 207,000 tonnes, about 53,000 cubic metres of reinforced concrete and 14,128 tonnes of iron were used in the project. Many infrastructure services have been developed within the scope of the project, including 10,722 metres of rainwater drainage and sewage network to prevent accumulation of water during the rainy season and 14,205 metres for laying the treated water network and irrigation pipes, besides the extension of 16.8 km of electricity networks.