Midmac roundabout green signal on the blink

Vehicles queued up at the traffic light that never turns green at one side of Al Asiri Interchange (Midmac roundabout) on Monday afternoon. PICTURE: Jayaram

By Joey AguilarStaff Reporter

A traffic signal that never turns green is troubling motorists who try to traverse Al Asiri roundabout (popularly known as Midmac roundabout) when driving from Doha towards Salwa.

“This signal either remains red or keeps blinking amber, leaving waiting motorists at the mercy of the traffic flow from the other three directions,” a motorist told Gulf Times yesterday.

“It is a very strange situation that has been happening only at this particular traffic signal for several months now” another motorist observed.

Going by the logic that experience makes one wiser, motorists who are aware of the problem at the signal seek other routes, even if they are longer.

“Because, if you are stuck at the signal, you never know when you are able to clear the roundabout,” one of the motorists quipped.

An Asian expatriate described his experience travelling on the same route as a “traffic nightmare.” From the Qatar Medical Clinic, which is hardly 400m from the roundabout, it took him an hour and 35 minutes before reaching the roundabout.

“It was really horrible and I was in a hurry that time because I need to attend a meeting, but what can I do?” he said. “The problem is that the signal doesn’t turn green, I don’t know why.”

One motorist also shared the same experience saying he was stuck on the traffic for more than an hour when he was on his way back home.

From Jarir Bookstore, which is less than a kilometre from the Midmac roundabout, the engineer said he had to take the D Ring road knowing it was more convenient to pass by the troublesome signal.

“I thought probably it was just a peak hour so I tried using the same route in another day but I was wrong,” he explained. Like him, many drivers have tried looking for alternative routes to avoid the area.

Mounting complaints have also escalated from residents and angry parents who usually pass by the area to take their children to school in the morning.

“The roundabout is prone to accidents because motorists always take chances, which is why the safety of both driver and passenger relies on chance,” one resident said.

He added that vehicular movement along the Midmac roundabout constant making it a busy thoroughfare.

“The number of vehicles traversing this area is high because it serves as a strategic conduit to industrial areas and corporate offices,” he stressed.

One motorist suggested that the signal should be manually programmed to balance and ease the traffic flow for vehicles using the route.

Other signals in the roundabout (which serve other roads) seemed to be functioning well and ease traffic better. “Traffic lights have been built to ease traffic congestions and not to worsen it,” he added.