Omar Chatriwala/Twitter
Commuting times seem to be getting worse across Doha this week as residents in all parts of the city complained about renewed trouble with traffic.
Thousands of residents got tied up in a particularly painful tangle trying to leave West Bay today, where Ashghal this week launched a series of complex diversions after closing Arch (Rainbow) Roundabout to construct an expressway.
At issue today appeared to be an unannounced road closure at the former Oryx Roundabout, and the closure of a lane onto Khalifa St. leading toward TV Roundabout, where traffic was diverted.
On Monday, the Ministry of Interior warned of roadwork in that area, but did not elaborate:
Heavy traffic congestion on roads leading Q-post R/A due to maintenance works. Please take alternative routes. #MOI_Qatar
— Ministry of Interior (@MOI_QatarEn) October 28, 2013
Meanwhile, each new project seems to be having a knock-on effect across the city as commuters take different routes to their destinations. As people left work today, the Corniche, Doha Expressway and Salwa Road seemed to be particularly congested.
Here’s some reaction from residents on Twitter:
What has your experience been like this week? Thoughts?
It’s a disaster. They started off so well, but then must have decided traffic is moving to freely so lets close more roads and remove all roundabouts at the same time. That’ll f@&” em!
wat is f@& em =D
I was very supportive of the way Ashgal were handling things, but obviously they thought they should be causing more chaos and the smoothish flow of traffic dispite the road works was damaging their reputation. However they have seen the error of their ways and now are back on top form
i c
I heard rumours of a Keep Doha Moving project that was to help schedule road works so that if one road was out of service or restricted, the two parallel roads would be unaffected. Seemed like quite a sensible idea.
Probably got thrown out when it was realized that for the scale of the work to be completed before 2022, we should have got building sooner rather than spending time forming committees!
I’m normally very supportive, and do try to be as patient as possible, but things do seem to be getting a lot worse on the roads.
Unfortunately, Ashgal don’t seem to be learning from experience. The diversions from Arch (rainbow) roundabout in themselves are pretty well planned and signed. It’s the closure of other key routes and junctions in the immediate vicinity that is causing chaos.
The thing is this: Arch roundabout won’t re-open until late 2015: can Doha cope with another two years of this? Experience tells us that before it gets better, it will get worse..
This seems to have been a late decision to close the Oryx Roundabout. The diversion to TV roundabout and the necessary re-tasking of the lights at TV roundabout only were instructed late this afternoon. Not the best planning in the world I think you’ll agree
traffic is out of control right now it makes my blood boil,but i know it will get better soon
May Allah hear you and it becomes true 🙂
inshallah (: