New flyover opened to traffic at Bani Hajer interchange

The Public Works Authority (Ashghal) has announced the opening of a new flyover at the Bani Hajer interchange, which will provide free-flowing traffic from Doha towards Al Rayyan.

Part of the Khalifa Avenue project, the new flyover is expected to "largely ensure less transit time" and facilitate better traffic flow, Ashghal has said in a statement. This is because motorists using Khalifa Avenue can now have direct access to Al Rayyan Road, thereby sparing them from having to deal with the diversions that existed in and around the area.

The flyover is 1.15km long and comprises two lanes that will help lessen traffic pressure and improve movement in the surrounding areas, as well as congested localities with high populations such as Bani Hajer, Al Gharafa and Al Rayyan, Ashghal said. It will also serve various vital facilities such as Qatar Foundation’s Education City, which is home to several colleges.

Approximately 70% of the Khalifa Avenue construction works has been accomplished, and the whole project is due to be completed by the first quarter of 2020, according to Ashghal.

Ashghal Highway Department project engineer Abdullah Qassim noted that completing the flyover that connects Doha with Al Rayyan is part of the series of openings taking place on the Khalifa Avenue project. Until now, Ashghal has opened 6.1km of road, the Gharafat-Al Rayyan roundabout along with major parts of the Bani Hajer interchange, he added.

“The new flyover comes after the opening of sections of the Bani Hajer interchange. Minor sections that are not yet completed include the link road from Dukhan towards Al Rayyan along with the Camel Bridge,” he informed.

Taking note of its vital location, the authority has converted the Bani Hajer roundabout into a three-level interchange - thereby facilitating free movement for approximately 1,500 vehicles per hour, the statement notes.

As a result, the junction has become a key access point for the three major arteries of Khalifa Avenue, Dukhan Road and Al Rayyan Road along with the populated areas around them.

Ashghal has also opened sections of the Bani Hajer interchange involving an underpass, which links Bani Hajer with Al Rayyan, and a 1.3km link bridge between Al Rayyan and Dukhan.

Further, it has opened two right ramps, one receiving travellers going from Doha towards Bani Hajer via Khalifa Avenue and the other leading travellers going from Bani Hajer towards Dukhan via Al Shahama Street.

Two more loops connecting with the Bani Hajer underpass have been opened to link traffic going from Dukhan to Bani Hajer and from Bani Hajer to Doha in addition to a right turn to help commuters travelling from Al Rayyan Road to Khalifa Avenue exit towards Doha.

In December 2017, Ashghal had opened a 3.1km-long section of the main carriageway of Khalifa Avenue that stretches from the west of Tilted Interchange to the east of Bani Hajer interchange.

This helped alleviate traffic congestion on the main road as well as local approaches in Al Gharafa and Bani Hajer, and improve traffic movement for people living there.

The authority also opened the Al Wajba Bridge after upgrading the old bridge from two to three lanes, allowing for better traffic flow.

A uniquely designed roundabout was also opened; the main road, which is the straight section for traffic on Khalifa Avenue, goes through the centre of the signal-controlled roundabout. The interchange links north of Gharafat Al Rayyan Street, south of Qatar Foundation and west and east of Al Luqta Street.

The Khalifa Avenue project runs from the Al Wajba Palace Interchange (west) to the Tilted Interchange (east) and along Al Gharafa Road from Al Rayyan Street (south) to Thani Bin Jassim Street (north).

Project works include the construction of approximately 11.6km of dual carriageway with four lanes in each direction, replacing a three-lane way besides seven major free-flowing interchanges, service roads and auxiliary lanes along sections of the road as well as cycle, pedestrian and camel lanes.