To make way for the Doha Metro, Qatar Rail is closing part of Al Sadd St. between C-Ring Road and Al Wabb this week.

Over the past few days, diversions have been set up specifically between Mohamed Bin Al Qasim St. (past Royal Plaza) and Al Waab, slowing traffic.

Qatar Rail said that the detours would be in place from Jan. 9, 2015 until Jan. 9, 2018.

For the past few months, the busy road has seen congestion steadily build, as the rail company began closing different service roads and parking lots.

Shopkeepers, many of whom have been operating in the area for decades, have lamented the construction, saying it is deterring customers. To cope, a few restaurant managers said they are trying to build up delivery services to keep themselves operational.

Metro plans

Al Saad station will be one of 11 stations on Doha Metro’s Gold Line, which is set to run West-East from Villaggio mall, under Al Waab street, along Al Saad street and eventually through to the northern end of the former Doha airport’s runway.

The public transportation system is expected to open to passenger traffic in 2019.

Last month, a senior Qatar Rail official said that the first phase of the Doha Metro is 16 percent complete.

He added that so far, some 40 percent of excavation works for 38 stations had been finished, meaning many parts of Qatar have already been dug up to make room for the new transit system.

Separately, a regional rail line is also in the works, as well as a light rail system at Lusail City. Both are scheduled for completion in 2018.

Thoughts?