The Ras Abu Abboud tunnel at the Sharq interchange will close for inspection work on the mornings of Friday, April 3 and Friday, April 10, Qatar’s public works authority has announced.
The tunnel, which provides a quick route to Hamad International Airport (HIA) and Al Wakrah, will be shut from 3am until 11am on both days to allow “periodic inspection works of the tunnel’s infrastructure,” Ashghal said in a statement.
During this time, the structure of the tunnel, as well as the ventilation, lighting, electrical and control systems will be surveyed.
Motorists are advised to follow signs for traffic diversions, and to use the Sharq interchange, turning left at the traffic signals to head toward HIA and Al Wakrah.
The tunnel opened to traffic in January 2010 following a three-year project, which aimed to give a direct route from the Corniche toward the new airport.
The US$200 million scheme included the construction of new bridges, two underpasses and the 350 meter-long tunnel, according to specialist website Tunnels Online.
Thoughts?
Police should put some cameras inside the tunnel or monitor it somehow. Although trucks are not allowed in the tunnel no truck driver bothers to respect this.
That’s the problem when compliance with traffic law starts to break down. There are people ignoring all sorts of traffic laws all over town, all because everyone they see is also ignoring traffic laws. You can hardly expect truck drivers to follow the law when almost no one else seems to bother.
What’s needed is a zero tolerance approach to road safety – no matter who you are, what car you drive, which passport you have in your pocket, who your cousin is, if you break the law expect to be caught and punished.
Well said!