The Public Works Authority (Ashghal) has announced that it has opened Al Kheesa Interchange to traffic after completing the junction upgrade as part of the North Road Corridor Enhancement project.
The reconstruction of Al Kheesa Interchange will provide 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 authority has said in a press statement.
Senior officials were present at the inauguration of the overhauled interchange, including Ashghal’s Expressway Department manager Yousef al-Emadi, Expressway Department manager Badr Darweesh, Traffic Engineering and Safety official Brigadier Mohamed Maarifiya, Umm Slal Municipality representative Hassan al-Naimi and Central Municipality Council member Meshaal al-Naimi. Representatives from the Ministry of Transport and Communications and a number of Ashghal project engineers were also present.
The upgrade of Al Kheesa Interchange includes two new flyovers: one considered “the longest overpass” on Al Shamal Road with a length of approximately 700m and three lanes, heading from Al Kheesa to Doha, while the other is 170m-long and has two lanes, heading from Doha to Al Kheesa. The new bridges have tripled the capacity up to 12,000 vehicles per hour in place of 4,000. Also, Ashghal has converted the main bridge roundabout into a light signal, enhancing safety and streamlining traffic as well.
The revamp will help improve traffic and reduce travel time for road users in the surrounding locations, allowing for traffic decongestion on Umm Slal Mohamed Interchange and Al Kharaitiyat Interchange.
Residents of Al Kheesa, Umm Slal Mohamed and Al Kharaitiyat stand to benefit as the alleviated traffic conditions around since Al Kheesa Interchange will allow for better traffic flow from and onto Al Shamal Road.
Also, the interchange will work as an access point for the service roads on Al Shamal Road for travellers from Doha and the northern areas.
The interchange is a key connection for Al Shamal Road users and those from places on the western side towards Al Kheesa, as there is a direct link with the vital Arab League Street, free-flowing movement to Community College of Qatar, Qatar University and Al Khor Coastal Road.
The overhauled junction improves movement from North Road and areas on the eastern side towards Umm Slal, providing a connection with Barzaan Market, Umm Slal Centre for Health and Wellness and the new Umm Slal Wholesale Market along with other educational and business facilities around.
Al-Emadi said 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 North Road as well as commercial, educational and health facilities in the area.
He thanked all entities who co-operated on the project, including the Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Transport and Communications, 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.
Crisis has been contained
On the impact of the current siege on Ashghal’s projects, Expressway Department manager Yousef al-Emadi said the crisis has been contained and substitutes for primary materials are being obtained from countries such as Oman, India, France and others. He pointed out that all the materials are available in different parts of the world and not limited to the blockading countries. Ashghal met with the contractors, suppliers and all entities concerned and the situation was dealt with quickly, he said, confirming that the authority’s projects are not affected by the blockade.
