Aiming to provide well-developed roads that facilitate access to 2022 World Cup Stadiums, the Public Works Authority ‘Ashghal’ continues to work on several projects that serve the stadiums through the completion of the surrounding roads and infrastructure in the areas in which they are located.
Through a number of projects, Ashghal is establishing a network of roads to facilitate traffic movement during the World Cup in 2022 in coordination with the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy, Ministry of Interior, Amiri Guard and Qatar Football Association. In addition to maintaining the communication with all concerned entities in Qatar to ensure the integration of all Ashghal projects with the various facilities serving the World Cup, such as, Metro stations, bus stations, commercial and tourist areas, fan zones, parks and gardens, which will provide visitors with a great experience during their stay for the World Cup in Qatar.
Al Wakra Stadium:The Public Works Authority ‘Ashghal’ has delivered a number of local roads, expressways and various infrastructure projects that serve Al Wakra Stadium facilities. Ashghal has developed new roads and upgraded existing roads to facilitate access to the stadium and its facilities.
Expressway Network that serve Al Wakrastadium
Commuting from Doha to Al Wakra nowadays does not necessarily require passing through Al Wakra main road, since there are new alternative routes like G-Ring Road, and the southern part of Doha Express Highway, Najma street extension, in addition to the construction of other upgraded roads that connect commuters from the north, such as Al Majd Road, and other roads facilitating commuters from the south such as Mesaieed Road and Hamad Port Road.
Ashghal has substantially completed the construction works of all expressways adjacent to Al Wakra stadium during 2017 and 2018, including the southern part of Doha Express Highway and G-Ring Road, since these roads facilitate traffic movement from Doha and the southern regions towards the stadium, especially that these news roads can accommodate higher traffic volumes that reach over 20,000 vehicles per hour in both directions.
In order to facilitate the movement of visitors and World Cup fans, the roads network offers the distinct feature of connected pedestrian and bicycle paths. This feature allows road users to reach easily and safely, with the expressway roads network adding approximately 256 km of pedestrian and bicycle paths.
G Ring Road
The G Ring Road is a newly constructed vital road that has significantly enhanced traffic movement between Doha and the southern areas. It extends for 22 kilometers from Hamad International Airport to Al Majd Road. The project has delivered a five-lane link in each direction with 7 multi-level interchanges connecting several residential and commercial areas such as the Industrial Area, Logistics Village, Barwa City, Barwa Village along with multiple areas in the southern Doha region.
And to encourage healthy lifestyle, the project has delivered 128 kilometers of pedestrian and cycle paths along with extensive works of beautification and landscaping.
The road facilitates access to 2022 FIFA World Cup stadiums such as Al Wakra Stadium where Umm Besher Interchange will enable road users coming from G Ring Road to get on the Southern Part of Doha Express Highway and reach Al Wukair Interchange which directly serves Al Wakra Stadium.
The Southern Part of Doha Express Highway
The Southern Part of the Doha Express Highway project is considered one of the most important roads that directly connect to Al Wakra stadium though Al Wukair Interchange, as it connects with Doha Expressway, Sabah Al Ahmad Corridor and G Ring Road on one end, and with Al Wukair Road, Mesaieed Road and al Wakra Main Road on the other end.
The Southern Part of Doha Express Highway is located to the west from Al Wakra City, starts at a close proximity to Al Meshaf Road heading north, and extends along 11 kilometres up to Mesaieed Road in the south. This road provides road users with five lanes in each direction and five multi-level interchanges.
The opening of the Southern Part of Doha Express Highway in 2017 added an additional alternative route between Al Wakra, Al Wukair, Al Meshaf areas and Doha, due to its connectivity to arterial roads such as G Ring Road, F Ring Road and Al Majd Road, which significantly facilitates the access to Hamad International Airport, Hamad Port, Doha and southern areas such as Mesaieed City. The road’s opening has made a tangible difference to traffic movement due to the added traffic volume capacity enhancement compared to Al Wakra Main Road that currently includes only two lanes in each direction. Road users are now able to reach their destinations bypassing Al Wakra City. The project has also delivered a 67-kilometer cycle and pedestrian paths.
Al Majd Road
The seven (7)-lane free-flow dual carriageway from Mesaieed to Al Khor, will accommodate over 14,000 vehicles per hour in each direction for a distance of 130 km. Al Majd Road includes 18 interchanges providing efficient traffic movement, which will be a key contributing factor to reducing travel time up to 50%. Al Majd Road serves a significant number of residential areas, such as Mesaieed, Al Wakra, Al Wukair, south of Doha including Ain Khalid, Umm Al Seneem. Also, Al Waab, Al Aziziya, Al Murra, Abu Nakhla, Mekaines, Muaither, Al Sailiya, Al Mearad.
Al Majd Road enhances traffic flow towards many economic facilities, such as Hamad Port; Hamad International Airport; the Industrial Area; Logistic areas, such as Manateq and Logistics Village. Furthermore, it facilitates access to popular malls and markets, such as Mall of Qatar and Wholesale Market. It connects to recreational and tourist destinations such as the Pearl, Katara, Al Rufaa and Al Daayen Celebration Hall Complex and several beaches such as Sealine, Al Wakra, Al Khor and Simaisma. Al Majd Road facilitates access to some of the most prestigious educational institutions in the State of Qatar such as Education City, Qatar University and Community College of Qatar.
As part of the infrastructure projects related to the World Cup preparations, Al Majd Road completion enhanced connectivity with a number of stadiums such as Al Rayyan, Al Khor, and Lusail stadiums. It also facilitated access to Al Wakra stadium for road users coming from northern and southern regions, through Bu Al Yawabi Interchange, for those coming from Salwa Road, and through Hamad Port Interchange and for those coming from Mesaieed Industrial City, Sealine and Al Afja area.
Al Wakra Main Road
In May 2018, Ashghal launched construction works to upgrade 9 kilometres of Al Wakra Main Road. The project will deliver three (3) lanes in each direction including an underpass that will span between Al Wakra City and Doha.
The project’s design allows for a wide central median that will accommodate Qatar red line metro (Qatar Rail), which will connect Al Wakra to Doha with its two main stations of Ras Bu Funtas and Al Wakra. The project will also deliver 6.1 kilometres of combined pedestrian and cycle paths.
Wakra Main Road is an important addition to Ashghal’s external highway network as it plays a strategic role in linking several main expressways namely G Ring Road and the southern Part of Doha Express Highway. It will significantly enhance the travel experience of road users in the southern part of the country and all Al Wakra areas. In addition, the project will serve Al Wakra stadium, one of 2022 World Cup stadiums. Road users can use The Pearl roundabout on Al Wakra Main Road Project to reach Al Wakra Stadium.
Al Wukair Road
Al Wukair Road is considered a vital addition to the roads network, providing a 13-kilometre stretch of road, significantly upgraded to provide dual four (4) lanes capable of accommodating 8,000 vehicles per hour in each direction as opposed to the previous configuration of one (1) lane in each direction. The road consists of two (2) multi-level interchanges providing free flow traffic in all directions.
Al Wukair Road will enhance traffic movement within the Expressway roads network in the State’s southern regions. It connects the Industrial Area and Al Wukair to Al Kharrara, Naqa Bu Birka area and Al Majd Road, intercepting Hamad Port Road; it also connects all the aforementioned areas to Al Wakra stadium either through Umm Al Houl Interchange via Mesaieed Road, or through Bu Ghurban Interchange passing through Al Wukair.
A boom in the local roads leading to Wakra Stadium
Ashghal's achievements in implementing the highways leading to Al Wakra Stadium from all over Qatar extended to include the development of local roads in Wakra and Al Wukairarea that serve the stadium through a series of projects.
These projects included development works on part of Al Wukair Road, which included an increase in the number of lanes from two to four lanes and the installation of traffic signals in the area between Al Wakra Hospital and Al Wukair Road’s intersection with Doha Expressway. The aim of these works is to facilitate the movement of traffic in the area and to provide additional exits and entrances to the stadium, especially after the development of local roads branching through Al Wukair road, such as Bayt Al Maqdes Street, opposite to the stadium, and the new Al Wakra Road which is considered an extension toAl Najma Street.
Development works also include upgrading the road leading to Al WakraCentral Market and the new Al Wakra Road, Packages 5 and 7,with a total length of 23 km, which provides direct connection with Al Wakra Stadium and is one of the most direct routes for those coming from Doha or Al Wakra.
The authority completed 1.7 km of Sheikh Saud Bin Abdel Rahman Street, under the Roads and Infrastructure of West Al Mashafproject. This street will link New Al Wakra road with Interchange 10 of Doha Express Highway (Al Wakra Bypass). This street is an alternative route for drivers coming from North and heading towards the stadium.
Ashghal has also completed the construction of Al Meera Junction and Aba Al Heeranstreet, which lead to Al Wakra main road. Additionally, the construction of rising main and foul sewer pumping station to serve the stadium and the surrounding area as part of the Roads and Infrastructure for Government Residential Division Project in North of Wukair was also completed.
Pedestrian and cycling tracks connect the metro to the stadium
As part of Ashghal's plan to provide alternative means of transportation within and outside Doha, and in line with the country's general plan to promote sport, Ashghal’sSupervisory Committee of Beautification of Roads & Public Places in the Country, has developed cycling and pedestrian tracks in most local roads and expressway projects, enabling road users to access their destinations easily and safely. These tracks connect to all World Cup stadiums as well as Fan Zones, commercial areas, fan residences, and Hamad International Airport. It also connects to bus stations and the metro network, as well as ‘Park and Ride’ and ‘Park and Walk’ services.
In order to facilitate the fan commute from Al Wakrah Metro Station to Al Wakrah Stadium, Ashghal has implemented 3.5km long pedestrian and cycling tracks extending from the metro station to the stadium, starting from Al Wakrah Street to pass through Najma Street extension and Al Wukair Road, within two months.
The implementation of these tracks aims to enhance the movement and transportation of visitors and fans during the Amir Cup final.
The works of beautification and landscaping are carried out in order to provide shade for these tracks; Ashghal also provides shaded rest areas, in addition to providing many tunnels along these tracks if necessary.
It is worth mentioning that the expressway network will add approximately 256 km of cycling and pedestrian tracks by 2022.
Continued efforts before and during the Amir Cup
In coordination with the General Directorate of Traffic and Qatar Football Association (QFA) and the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy (SCDL), Ashghal contributes to easing traffic management on the roads surrounding the stadium through a number of directional signs that lead people to the parking plots with its different categories, in addition to mobile overhead gantry with supplementary signs to lead the road users.
An integrated team has been established by the Roads Operation and Maintenance Department at Ashghal since February 2019 to survey, study and test all available road assets such as asphalt condition, road signs, safety barriers, drainage assets, street lighting, pedestrian crossings, tunnels, traffic signs, etc., to ensure the readiness of these assets, in cooperation with all partners.
It was agreed on the necessary operational plans, the development of immediate emergency response plans, and prepare the necessary teams and equipment to ensure the success of the event, in addition to the study of all the road projects being implemented around the stadium and ensure its readiness during the event
In addition to planning for road closures, traffic diversions and alternative routes during the event to facilitate the movement of individuals and vehicles, Ashghal urges road users to avoid the area surrounding the stadium (in case of non-attendance) from 6:30 pm on the opening day (May 16) until 2am..
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