Starting Aug. 15, construction will commence near the Radisson Blu (Ramada) signal as part of a planned C-Ring Road overhaul to improve congestion on one of Qatar’s most trafficked arteries.
The affected area goes from New Salata intersection (near the former Al Andalus petrol station) to Kinana intersection (just before La Cigale Hotel) and from the Centre Roundabout to just before Al Asiri intersection.
Work was originally not expected to begin on this particularly trafficky stretch until next year, according to Ashghal.
But in a statement today, Qatar’s public works authority said that it is skipping ahead to phase four of the project from phase one because of conflicting construction in the area:
“The reason behind starting works on the fourth phase prior to starting the planned second phase, is to prevent the overlap between the works of the C-Ring Road project and the works of a new expressway project that will commence in the near future.”
Speaking to Doha News, an Ashghal spokeswoman declined to further explain which expressway project would be starting soon.
Phase four details
Phase four construction will be broken down into two parts, with an expected completion date of mid-January 2015.
First, all four intersections will be equipped with new signals that include pedestrian crossings, an additional road lane and the repaving of the existing three lanes.
Once completed, the second stage of construction will commence, and will focus on C Ring feeder lanes, joining it to roads like Ali Bin Taleb Road and the Salwa Road extension.
Ashghal said two lanes will remain open to traffic in both directions throughout the construction period.
Some service roads will be closed, but diversions will be put in so commuters can access businesses and residences in the area.
Both stages are estimated to take two and a half months each.
C-Ring overhaul
The C-Ring project first began in May, and is expected to span a 6.3km stretch. Ashghal has structured the roadwork into four phases, with phase one almost complete.
The first phase focused on improving the most northern parts of C-Ring road — from Umm Ghuwailina (VIP Roundabout) to halfway between Toyota and Gulf Cinema signals.
VIP R/A has been replaced with a signal-controlled intersection and the pre-final layer of asphalt is currently being laid onto newly added intersection lanes.
Ashghal recently confirmed that work on phase one is on track, and will be completed by September.
All four phases of C-Ring road construction are expected to be completed by mid-2015. Once all four phases are complete, the following improvements will have been made:
- Widening the road from three to four lanes;
- Establishing pedestrian crossings at all four intersections under construction;
- Installing three U-turn lanes with pedestrian crossings in the 6.3km stretch (not specified where);
- Construction of permanent roads with new traffic signals and street lighting; and
- Upgrading irrigation pipes in the area.
Thoughts?
Doha News now invents new English words, “trafficky”.
Fantastico!
Officially I believe that “trafficky” is still categorized as a “new word or slang” however Collins appear to have it listed: http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/trafficky
In general I find that I am not much of a fan of “new words” however “trafficky” I kind of like!
Actually not bad. I’ve preponed my preconceptions on this one.
Disirregardless of whether it’s a new word, it works.
September is going to be sooo much fun, what with schools reopening and half of the C ring road dug up!
Maybe I’m a tad cynical, but I’m beginning to suspect that this is the next stage in a deliberate plan to f#(k up absolutely all access routes to QDC?
At this rate, we won’t need a car to get there, we’ll need a Dormobile (Amer. RV)
if there is a will there is a way
Perhaps we might consider a very hostile hi-jacking of a metro tunnel boring machine? City Centre to QDC, notch off a spur line to Old Airport and sell toll fees to finance the project. Everyone’s a winner!
What they need is three more QDCs or delivery service to serve the resident population
This will be fun, let the games begin.
Another poor planing…Qatar’s public works authority said that it is skipping ahead to phase four of the project from phase one because of conflicting construction in the area:…affected is the public and heavy traffic jam
I don’t trust what you say….
hahahahah. funny you MIMH. Remember i read one of your comments where Saeed reply “i don’t trust what you say” and you reply him “you are leaning”. So, this is another solid lesson for Saeed. lol i love dohanews, it real fun in here. “WE ALL SEE YOU, YOU ARE NOT ALONE”
I can’t wait to drive by Ramada intersection between 6:30am – 7:30am and 2-4pm every day after mid-september, it will be a blast. Let me get started on planning my trip.
Perfect timing by Ashghal as usual, starting work just as everyone is returning to Qatar. Why didn’t they do the same as last year on the Corniche and start this section at the beginning of summer when traffic numbers reduced? They could have done this work at the same time as Phase 1 too. Guess their planners must have been away on vacation and just dreamt up this idea on their return.
It’s not enough that that they have dug up and made a mess of the phase 1 part near from the Gulf Cinema Signal till the old arrivals airport, now they will dig up the Ramada Junction also. Couldn’t they finish one mess before starting the other atleast? Phase 1 was quoted to be over in 3 months. I really doubt the current mess is considered “almost complete”
Two tiny change in the road design can reduce the traffic congestion by 30 %
1. Make Free U turns ahead of the signals. (See the example of Holiday Villa Signal)
2. Make Free Rights absolutely “free”. Usually I have seen many times free rights are seen blocked by vehicles who want to move straight. This adds the congestion up the lane.
There are plenty of free right turns. The problem is that a Land Cruiser is always at the head of the turn right lane with the intention of cutting in and going straight, selfishly holding up all the traffic behind him.
Happy to see Ashghal is getting it done. They have been performing small miracles with the removal of the roundabouts and now they are addressing the traffic lights that take forever to change to green. As a western expat, I am impressed by the speed of the projects and the actions taken. Yeah the corniche was a pain during the roundabout removals but I am happy they did it.
If you’ve lived here as long as I have you’ll have memories of them ‘fixing’ C-Ring road in 2005/6, when they re-did the stretch of road Hamad hospital to Ramada signal. And now they are ‘fixing’ it again.
The C-Ring has far too many sets of traffic lights. It’ll make no difference if the road is wider as you will still have to stop every 100 meteres for the next set of lights!
This is a good example of poor management.
Clearly you can not run a country with money alone. As they say: money cannot buy everything !