With reporting from Gazanfarulla Khan

Qatar’s new Corniche road will see “smart” traffic signals that assess congestion and coordinate green lights accordingly, Ashghal has announced.

During a meeting with local media this morning, the company discussed the ongoing work to convert eight roundabouts in and around the Corniche into intersections, including: the Museum of Islamic Art, Al Diwan, National Theatre, Wadi Al Sail, Oryx, Onaiza, the National Library and Lejbailat roundabouts, as well as installing the smart signal at Grand Hamad junction.

Addressing the traffic woes the construction is causing, officials said it was necessary to renovate the entire road at once to ensure the optimal function of the upcoming Intelligent Traffic Systems (ITS) signals.

In a statement, Ashghal said:

Working on all the roundabouts at the same time as opposed to working on them one at a time reduces the project time-frame, allowing work to be completed in only six months.

These improvements to the Corniche have limited benefit if traffic is caught in a bottleneck further inland at one of the feeder road junctions.

Officials added that about half of the $55 million (QR200 million) Corniche project has been completed, with the first phase – the creation of the intersections – nearly over.

The second phase – installation of the signals – starts in mid-September, and the entire project is expected to be completed by mid-November.

As one official put it, residents will be celebrating National Day (Dec. 18) on a new, improved Corniche with four three lanes on each side, with additional access lanes for turning.

Thoughts?

Credit: Photos by Gazanfarulla Khan

Note: This article has been correct to reflect that additional lanes being added to the Corniche will only be for turning.