QNA
Doha
AS part of the North Road Corridor Enhancement Project, the Public Works Authority (Ashghal) opened Al Kheesa Interchange to traffic after completing the junction upgrade.
The reconstruction of Al Kheesa Interchange will bring higher capacity and more streamlined traffic for the adjacent residential areas, particularly, Al Kheesa and Umm Slal, which are connected with nearby expressways and businesses, as well as provide alternative accesses and exits for Al Shamal Road.
The upgrade of Al Kheesa Interchange incorporates two new flyovers: one considered as the longest overpass on Al Shamal Road with a length of approximately 700 metre and three lanes, heading from Al Kheesa to Doha and another 170 metre long with two lanes, heading from Doha to Al Kheesa.
The new bridges have tripled the capacity with up to 12,000 vehicles per hour in place of 4,000 vehicles per hour. Also, Ashghal converted the main bridge roundabout into a light signal enhancing safety and streamlining traffic.
The revamp will reduce travel time for road users in the surrounding locations including Al Kheesa, Umm Slal Mohammed and Al Kharaitiyat and ease traffic on Umm Slal Mohammed Interchange and Al Kharaitiyat Interchange.
The Al Kheesa Interchange will allow for better traffic flow from and into Al Shamal Road. Also, the interchange is going to work as an access point for the service roads on Al Shamal Road for travellers from Doha and northern areas.
The interchange is a key connection for Al Shamal Road users and the west side areas towards Al Kheesa since there is a direct link with the vital Arab League Street, leading to Community College in Qatar, Qatar University and Al Khor Coastal Road.
The overhauled junction improves movement from North Road and the east side areas towards Umm Slal, providing a connection with Barzaan Market, Umm Slal Centre for Health and Wellness and new Umm Slal Wholesale Market along with other educational and business facilities around.
Eng Yousef al Emadi, Expressway Department manager at Ashghal, said that Al Kheesa Interchange is the last interchange to be opened as part of the North Road Enhancement Project, stressing the importance of the interchange, which links the Eastern and Western areas on both sides of the North Road, as well as the commercial, educational and health facilities in the area.
Eng Yousef thanked all entities who cooperated in this project, including the Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of Transport and Communications, the Ministry of Municipality and Environment and Umm Salal Municipality, as well as the project leaders who contributed to the completion of the interchange on time, hoping to double the efforts in order to develop Qatar in the best possible way.
For his part, Mansour Hasan al Naimi, representative and manager of the Services department in Umm Slal Municipality, confirmed that Al Kheesa Interchange connects Al Dhaayen and Umm Slal areas in both eastern and western regions and represents a vital artery for the residents of both regions.
The Al Kheesa Interchange is part of the North Road Corridor Enhancement Project implemented by Ashghal as it is finalising the 200-km service roads and cycling and foot paths.
Ashghal already opened Umm Slal Mohammed Interchange in April 2017 and the vital Al Kharaitiyat Interchange last March to serve areas of Al Kharaitiayt, Leabib, Al Ebb besides nearby highways and businesses as it creates several alternative routes for travellers from and to the North Road.
The North Road Corridor Enhancement Project incorporates new services roads from Duhail to Al Shamal Town, constructing Izghawa and Umm Slal Mohammed Interchanges, upgrading Lehweilah, Al Kheesa and Al Kharaitiyat Interchanges. Also, the improvements include revamping Al Khor Link Road, Umm Birkah Road and creating new cycling and foot paths.