One of Doha’s last iconic roundabouts is set to be bulldozed shortly to make way for a new multi-level intersection near Education City.

Work commences tomorrow (March 31) on the rebuilding of Slope (Tilted) roundabout, Ashghal has announced.

During the nine-month construction period, the roads will be reconfigured to create a temporary, signal-controlled junction north of the busy roundabout.

This is to enable construction of a two-level intersection that will ultimately allow free-flowing traffic along Al Luqta St. and on Gharafa St.

The plans include creating a 2.2km underpass linking north and south Gharafa, the public works authority said in a statement this week.

The work should be completed by the end of this year, it added.

Congestion

The junction is the main link connecting Education City with central and north Doha. It currently tends to get very congested during peak traffic hours.

To avoid further traffic snarls, Ashghal said that three lanes will remain open in each direction on Al Luqta St. and Al Gharafa St. during the construction.

All accesses will be available with a slight deviation before the R/A from and to Al Gharrafa, Al Luqta & Huwar Streets #Ashghal #Qatar

— هيئة الأشغال العامة (@AshghalQatar) March 29, 2017

Two lanes on Huwar St. will also remain open, as well as all right turn lanes.

However, motorists should be aware that the speed limit on Al Luqta St. has been reduced from 100km/hr to 50km/hr during the works.

Improving access

The rebuilding of Slope/Tilt roundabout (nicknamed as such because of its sloping gradient) is part of the QR6.9 billion Dukhan Highway East project.

This commenced in 2011, and has a completion date of early 2019.

It involves the overhaul of 6.5km of highway on Dukhan Road and a further 3.2km on Al Gharafa Road.

The new road runs connects the Bani Hajer interchange to the west with Slope junction.

Once complete, it will have eight lanes (four in each direction), as well as service roads and interchanges, and should provide a speedier route between western Qatar and central Doha.

Iconic roundabouts

For the past several years, Ashghal has been working to replace many of Doha’s busiest roundabouts with signal-controlled intersections.

This includes old landmarks such as Oryx, Burger King and Rainbow (Arch) roundabouts.

These iconic junctions previously helped visitors and residents navigate their way about town.

But they have all been bulldozed to improve traffic flow amid a rising population.

Thoughts?