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Tribune News Network
Doha
The Public Works Authority (Ashghal) has announced the completion and opening of the entire road network on the Dukhan Highway Central project.
The opening of the new expressway marks a major milestone in the construction of the improved Doha Dukhan corridor, a regional road network that will enhance travel efficiency between the eastern and western seaboard of Qatar.
To complete road works on the project, Ashghal recently opened a 1.4 kilometre loop ramp from Al Rufaa Street South towards Dukhan, a 1.5 kilometre loop ramp from Al Rufaa Street towards Doha, an 800 metre link from Al Rufaa Street towards Dukhan and a 480 metre tunnel that directly connects local roads near Mall of Qatar to the Doha-bound carriageway on the Dukhan Highway.
Extending from the Al Wajba area to Al Sheehaniya, the Dukhan Highway Central project has now delivered approximately 19 kilometres of new and enhanced road on the existing Dukhan Highway and Al Rufaa Street.
The new expressway provides road users with four lanes in each direction, doubling the former road's vehicle capacity from 4,000 to 8,000 vehicles per hour, while also replacing the existing roundabouts with three free-flowing interchanges.
The three interchanges Al Jahhaniya Interchange, Al Dehailiyat Interchange and Al Wajba Interchange have been designed to absorb current and future traffic volumes while also improving accessibility into local government, commercial and residential developments.
The project's main interchange, Al Jahhaniya Interchange, is a four level junction that consists of six flyovers and bridges, an underpass, two tunnels and multiple utility culverts.
The interchange provides seamless, free-flowing movement in all directions between Al Rufaa Street and the Dukhan Highway, and directly caters for traffic entering and exiting the Mall of Qatar, Al Rufaa Celebration Halls and in the future, the 2022 FIFA World Cup Stadium at Al Rayyan.
Ashghal has also enhanced driver safety on the project by installing more than 27 kilometres of guard rails and an additional 586 street lights, as well as sophisticated Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS), including dynamic message signs, speed cameras, licence plate readers, flood detection systems and emergency telephones.
The project has also delivered major infrastructure upgrades for utilities networks in the area, including 110 kilometres of cable ducts for telecommunications, water, drainage and sewage systems.
The Dukhan Highway Central project directly connects to other projects on Ashghal's Expressway Programme, including the Dukhan Highway East (Khalifa Avenue) project and the New Orbital Highway and Truck Route.
Through the Dukhan Highwa East project, the Dukhan Highway Central project is linked to phase one and two of the Al Rayyan Road Upgrade, which all form part of the Doha Dukhan Corridor. The full corridor is expected to be open for public use in 2018.
The intersection of the Dukhan Highway and New Orbital Highway will enable road users to easily transfer between both major highways through a new multi-level interchange, providing greater connectivity towards Al Shamal Road and Salwa Road. The interchange is expected to be fully functional by the end of 2017.
