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Satyendra Pathak
Doha
The G-Ring Road which opened on Saturday will ease traffic on Qatar roads by at least 50 percent, a top official of the Public Works Authority (Ashghal) has said.
The G-Ring Road, opened in the presence of Transport and Communications Minister HE Jassim bin Saif al Sulaiti and Minister of Municipality and Environment HE Mohammed bin Abdullah al Rumaihi, extends over 22 kilometres from Hamad International Airport to the Orbital Highway. Talking to Qatar Tribune on the sidelines of the official opening of the ring road, Ashghal President Saad bin Ahmad al Muhannadi said an uninterrupted traffic flow on the G-Ring Road will significantly reduce road congestions in the country's southern areas.
"It will also contribute to easing pressure on existing roads in other areas. Once fully operational in July, the G-Ring Road will reduce traffic on Qatar roads by at least 50 percent," Muhannadi said.
Built at a cost of QR4 billion, the new ring road includes five lanes in each direction, 48 km of cycle lanes, and 60 km of footways, with landscaping.
The G-Ring Road has eight main interchanges, 29 bridges and 18 underpasses, as well as loops to distribute the traffic load.
Almost 90 percent of the ring road has been opened to traffic from Saturday, Muhannadi said, adding that the remaining work will be completed by the end of July.
Making the G-Ring Road special is the fact that the 'Umm Beshr Interchange' on the road includes the highest bridge in Qatar, about 36 metres high.
Besides easing traffic on Qatar's roads, Muhannadi said, the G-Ring Road would play a vital role in reducing travel time between Hamad International Airport, Al Wajba, Rayyan, Bani Hajer and Dukhan.
"The G-Ring Road is an important axis that provides additional transportation options, and is connected with a number of expressways such as the Orbital Highway and Al Wakra Bypass. It is connected with the opened part of the Orbital Highway, creating a fast, non-stop road with a length of more than 50 km from Hamad International Airport (HIA) to Dukhan Road via Salwa Road," he said.
The G-Ring Road provides three new vital entrances to the Industrial Area from the South, linking it directly with the HIA. It also connects with Hamad Port, Mesaieed, Bu Samra Border and the Northern areas through the Orbital Highway, he said.
With the opening of the G-Ring Road, he said, commuters coming from HIA will have direct access to the Logistic Village, Hamad Port, Bu Samra Border, and the rest of the country via the Orbital Highway.
Talking to mediapersons on the sidelines of the event, HE the Minister of Municipality and Environment said that the G-Ring Road would facilitate trade within the country.
"The G-Ring Road was planned in a way to connect all the vital trade and public centres in the country. It brings areas like Al Wakra, Al Wukair, Al Thumama closer to the rest of the country," he said. The road has the capacity to absorb traffic expansion due to increase of cars over the next 30 years.
The opening of the road was followed by a parade of classic cars and motorcycles. The parade of classic cars was organised by Mawater Centre and Qatar Center for Motorcycles 'Batabit' in cooperation with the Ministry of Culture and Sports.
