As part of ongoing work to reduce traffic congestion across town, Ashghal has announced two separate sets of traffic diversions – one on E-Ring Road and another at the Al Rayyan interchange.
The first set of road works will take place at the Al Thumama roundabout, where Najma Street intersects with E-Ring Road, as the state’s public works authority converts the junction to a signal-controlled intersection.
Starting tomorrow (Sept. 29), one lane in each direction on 400m stretches of both Najma Street and E-Ring Road will be closed for four months and a temporary roundabout will be constructed to divert traffic around the works, Ashghal said in a statement.
The reconstruction of the roundabout is part of a wider program of work in and around the busy Najma area, which includes widening E-Ring Road and Najma Street and upgrading drainage networks, as well as creating pedestrian and cyclist paths, street lighting, and landscaping.
Ashghal announced its plans for the area last November, when it launched the bidding process for the project.
The package of works included converting three roundabouts in the area to intersections, in line with a wider program throughout Doha to get rid of roundabouts, which are often the site of accidents as traffic has significantly increased in the city over the last few years.
Ashghal has also deployed “smart” traffic signals at 70 key intersections, in a bid to better control the flow of traffic, particularly during rush hours. They are expected to be rolled out across the city.
As a popular residential area and one of the more established parts of town, Najma has been trying to cope in recent years with increasing traffic, which creates gridlock during peak hours, as well as an out-of-date sewage system.
Ashghal has been upgrading the sewer network, which has necessitated closing several roads in the area, over the last three months.
Al Rayyan diversions
Starting today, Ashghal has also announced diversions on a service road that runs parallel to the Expressway, just south of its intersection with the Al Rayyan Road at the Al Rayyan roundabout.
sTraffic will be diverted on to a parallel road, with the same number of lanes.
The diversion is to allow the construction of a bridge that will link Al Rayyan Road to Al Shamal Road via Al Amir Street, as part of the second phase works of Al Rayyan Road upgrade project aimed at improving traffic flow in the area, Ashghal said in a statement.
Overall, Ashghal is upgrading nearly 10km of Al Rayyan Road to expand it to four lanes in each direction, with signal-controlled intersections, underpasses, flyovers and a central median. Side roads and service roads will also be revamped of the program.
Announced in January last year, the project has been divided into two phases.
Work on the first section, which includes the 2.9km portion of road between the Bani Hajer Roundabout at Al Luqta Street in the west and the New Al Rayyan Roundabout at Furousiya Street and Huwar Street in the east started in early 2014.  That upgrade is expected to be completed by fall 2016.
Meanwhile, Al Rayyan Road Eastern portion takes in the 5.3km stretch of road between Sports roundabout near the Women’s Hospital in the east and the New Al Rayyan roundabout in the west. It is set to be finished in 2017.
Busy airport
E-Ring Road is a popular route for those traveling to the airport, particularly when the Corniche is backed-up with traffic.
Last night, Hamad International Airport was busy as Hajj pilgrims and travelers who took advantage of the Eid break began to return.
Three groups of Qatari pilgrims returned to Doha yesterday afternoon and early evening, according to Qatar’s head of the mission, Dr. Abdus Salam Al Qahtani, the Peninsula reported.
The arrivals hall was packed with family and friends, armed with bunches of flowers, to greet the pilgrims on their safe return.
Qatar Tourism Authority representatives were also handing out flowers to those arriving at the airport yesterday, to mark World Tourism Day.
They gave away 2,017 roses, produced by Roza Hassad, to visitors and returning residents to celebrate Qatar winning the rights to host World Tourism Day in 2017.
As a result of the extra traffic, there were long lines of people waiting for taxis at the airport yesterday evening, and the taxi rank was at times congested with cars loading up passengers.
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