Overhauling and improving Doha’s traffic infrastructure will take time, with major construction projects expected to continue for at least the next five years, the president of Qatar’s public works authority Ashghal has said.

Speaking to Qatar Tribune, Nasser bin Ali Al Mawlawi said:

“We expect to complete our major programs by 2021, but it is a never-ending work and many projects will continue even beyond 2022…

This network of infrastructure can’t be built in parts. We need to go as per the master plan, which is why we are seeing large-scale construction activity, including development of roads, expressways, bridges and so on. All this will make Qatar a much better place to live in.”

The official was speaking to reporters at a press conference to address recent flooding on the Dukhan Highway.

The Lebsayyer Interchange (Interchange 42) became waterlogged earlier this month during a downpour in Qatar, which is rare this time of the year.

According to Al Mawlawi, Ashghal’s technical team found no “defects” in the design of the interchange.

In a statement, the works authority added that “heavy and unusual rainfall on the road and surrounding area exceeded the network’s design capacity (and) prevented it from coping.”

In the works

This year, Ashghal was expected to begin 14 new road projects, in addition to 11 expressway projects worth more than QR18 billion that are already underway, according to its annual report.

And in the coming five to seven years, more than 32 expressway projects are expected to be completed, featuring 240 major interchanges and 980km of new roads.

However, many of the projects are slated to be finished before Qatar sees an influx of tourists for the 2022 World Cup.

That includes the completion of several over the next two years:

• Al Muntazah Street extension (scheduled completion: Q4 2016);
• North Road enhancements (Q4 2016);
• Dukhan Highway Central (Q4 2016);
• East Corridor and West Corridor ( both Q2 2017)
• Dukhan Road East (Q2 2017); and
• Lusail Expressway (Q2 2017).

Starting next year, work will also begin on Al Rayyan Road and Khalifa Street, one of the major routes into Dafna/West Bay that runs past the reconstructed Al Markhiya/Burger King intersection and TV Roundabout.

These are estimated to be complete by the end of 2017.

Thoughts?