Ashghal will permanently shut down the roundabout opposite the Doha Exhibition Center – and the roads leading to it – tonight (Thursday) as it expands construction of the Lusail Expressway.

Motorists heading both north and south between Arch (Rainbow) Roundabout and The Pearl area will be diverted onto a new 2km slip road that runs parallel to Lusail Street. In a statement, the public works authority said:

“The new alternative road that leads to The Pearl area, mainly consists of three lanes in each direction, with a two-lane section alongside Al Gasar roundabout. It also complies with international standards for road quality, signage and lighting, making it even better than the main Lusail Street. Speed limit on the new road will be 50km per hour, while all directional and traffic management signs have been installed.”

Drivers will not be able to access the Exhibition Center, Katara, the Intercontinental Hotel or Al Gassar Resort/St. Regis Hotel from the new road. Instead, visitors heading to those areas will have to shift onto the speed bump-laden West Bay Street that goes directly past the Intercon Hotel via one of two crossroads.

No timeline has yet been given for completion of the Lusail Highway. Work began on the 5.3km highway last November, and last month, a similar diversion was started in The Pearl area as that roundabout is also converted into an interchange.

Here’s a video rendering of what the highway could look like when completed:

Thoughts?

Credit: Map courtesy of Ashghal