Ashghal opens new interchange on Salwa Road

The Public Works Authority (Ashghal) Monday opened a new interchange on Salwa Road by the Mebaireek Area. Implemented by the Highway Projects Department, the interchange will improve traffic for commuters heading for Mebaireek, Bu Nakhla, Al Sailiya and Al Mearad.Located between Al Sailiya Interchange and Mesaieed Interchange, the two level interchange connects Salwa Road and Mebaireek Street. The works included building two 330m long main bridges, several exit points, loop bridges, local roads, bypass roads and 3km local roads and 3km of pedestrian and cycling paths. The area of landscape on both sides of the interchange is around 41,000 sqm.The new junction reduces travel time by 50% as it provides free traffic flow to Al Sailiya from Mebaireek. It acts as an alternative option to the nearby Al Sailiya Interchange while accommodating more than 8,500 vehicles per hour.The construction of new interchange aims to provide direct and free link for Salwa Road commuters towards Mebaireek and Al Sailiya areas by providing service roads in both directions of Salwa Road, for road users heading coming from Doha towards Mebaireek and Al Sailiya areas, or for those heading from Mebaireek and Al Sailiya towards external areas in south and west of Qatar such as Abu Nakhlah, Mukaynis and Al Karaana.Ashghal had upgraded and expanded of Khalid Bin Ahmed Interchange, converting the roundabout into a signal-controlled interchange and opened it to traffic in November 2022 to connect Salwa Road, Salwa Road Al Furousiya Street and to connect East Industrial Street, therefore enhancing traffic flow which accommodates 8500 vehicles per hour instead of 5000 vehicles per hour, cutting travel time to about 80%.The signal-controlled interchange consists of six lanes with many entry-exit points to 2.8km long connection roads, tree plantation over an area of 10,000sqm as part of landscape works.The interchange regulates traffic movement and provides more traffic safety instead of the old roundabout. The interchange is located at the entrance to Doha, Industrial Area, malls and many residential areas with large population density such as Ain Khaled, New Fereej Al Ghanim, Fereej Al Murrah, Fereej Al Manaseer and Muaither.Yousef Al-Emadi, Projects Affairs director, said the openings enhance traffic movement and the flow of traffic between Doha and Al Rayyan Municipality and the external areas. Jaber Hassan al-Jaber, director of Al Rayyan Municipality, said the new interchanges will serve various areas in Al Rayyan Municipality.Engineer Bader Darwish, Highway Projects Department manager, said the new interchange at Mebaireek will reduce travel time by 50%. Abdulla Mohamed al-Nabet, member of the Central Municipal Council of District 13, expressed his gratitude for Ashghal’s completion of the project.Project Engineer Noah al-Joof noted reliance on local materials and national factories in project's work is approximately 80% where lighting poles and directional signs, drainage pipes, rainwater drainage pipes, premade manholes, concrete and steel were supplied.The main features of the project include the provision of distinctive building methods such as the use of precast steel beams to reduce the closure of the underpass in Al Furousiya and Salwa Interchange. Mebaireek Bridge was planned to be on several stages to avoid traffic closure for Salwa Road users.Project engineer Nasser Dalmouk said the construction of Khalid Bin Ahmed and Mebaireek Interchanges will contribute significantly to enhancing traveler and cargo traffic as they connect between the Abu Samra border point in the south-west and Hamad port.Capt. engineer Abdullah Mansour al-Shaeel, Diversion Section Head at Traffic Safety Department in General Directorate of Traffic, was present at the opening.