Traffic snarls from construction on the Corniche, where roundabouts are currently being converted to traffic signals, should abate somewhat by the fall, a Public Works Authority (Ashghal) official has said.

That’s because work on the heavily trafficked road, which began some four months ago, will be completed in November 2013, Yousef Abdul Rahman Al-Emadi, director of Road Operations and Maintenance, told Al Sharq.

It is unclear whether Al-Emadi meant that the first phase of construction would be finished in the next four months, or if all Corniche roundabouts will be converted into signals by then.

UPDATE | July 17, 2013

In a statement, Ashghal confirmed that it aims to have all Corniche construction completed in the next four months. It added:

Roundabouts that will be converted into intersections upon completion of the project include Museum of Islamic Arts (MIA) roundabout, Al Diwan roundabout, National Theatre roundabout, National Library roundabout, Wadi Al Sail roundabout, Onaiza roundabout, and Lejbailat roundabout.

Ashghal officials also disclosed that other road projects will be embarked upon soon, including:

• The expansion of C Ring Road from Abdullah Abdul Ghani (Toyota) signal to Hamad Hospital;

• The renovation of Al Rayyan Road to give it a new artistic look and to increase usability; and

• The upcoming launch of a $7.4 million (QR27 million) new road maintenance system that keeps tabs on traffic happenings.

The projects are part of an ambitious $140 billion effort by Qatar to improve transportation in around overcrowded Doha and the rest of the country before the 2022 World Cup. 

Of course, before improvements arrive, residents will have to manage the congestion that construction brings.

Thoughts?

Credit: Photo by Qienz