The Public Works Authority, Ashghal, is closing one half of Al Aqsa St. next to the Ministry of Interior building on the Corniche today.

It said in a statement that the diversion would be in place for the rest of the month for construction work and an upgrade of the treated sewage runoff infrastructure there.

Traffic flowing from the Corniche to the parallel Majlis Al-Taawon St. will have to use Al Bidda St. instead of Al Aqsa, although drivers going the other way should be unaffected. The road is scheduled to reopen on Feb. 1, 2014.

Karwa R/A closure

Ashghal also said it will begin work at Karwa roundabout in the direction of Karwa City in the south of Doha on Sunday, Jan. 5.

Traffic flowing out of the roundabout in that direction will be blocked for the rest of the year.

As an alternative route, Ashghal recommends using the new signal on Industrial Rd. and taking the road toward Barwa City (see map above).

The public works authority adds:

“Ashghal requests road users to abide by the speed limits along the diversion, and comply with the instructions and traffic signs to ensure safety for all road users.”

Duhail Interchange sensors

Meanwhile, Ashghal has also launched a new “over-height vehicle detection system” at the Duhail Interchange to prevent trucks above 5.5m from passing under bridges there.

Touted as the first of its kind in the country, authorities say it is a step toward improving overall traffic and road safety in Qatar.

If an approaching truck violates the legal height limit, the detection system turns on warning sirens and flashes a message in multiple languages on an electronic display board, and the traffic signal itself will turn red. Traffic authorities are also notified.

Ashghal says is studying other possible interchanges and bridges to employ the system at.

Thoughts?