The Public Works Authority (Ashghal) on Tuesday announced the start of A-Ring Road Development Project as part of efforts to enhance traffic flow and ease congestion in central Doha.
Mohamed Arqoub al-Khaldi, head of Doha City projects in Ashghal’s Roads Projects Department, said the project aims to enhance the capacity of A-Ring Road by increasing the number of lanes from two to four in each direction along the 6.7km road.
This is in addition to developing some streets running perpendicular to A-Ring Road, and developing service roads on both sides of the road, the authority has said in a press statement.
Ashghal has started implementing the first phase of the project, which is divided into five phases. Work on the other four phases will start in the next few months and all five phases will be completed by the end of 2019, according to Ashghal.



Mohamed Arqoub al-Khaldi

"The importance of the project is that it will develop a vital road characterised by heavy traffic movement as it connects many commercial and residential areas as well as development projects in Doha such as Msheireb Downtown Doha,” said al-Khaldi.
He explained that the A-Ring Road project includes the development of nine intersections, which will contribute to enhancing traffic flow and improving movement in the area.
The works include converting Dar Al-Kutub Roundabout into a signal-controlled intersection as well as developing Al-Rifaa, Al-Diwan, Hamad Al-Kabeer, Nasser Bin Khaled, Al-Kahrabaa, Msheireb, Al-Asmakh and Sofitel intersections.
The project also includes increasing the number of parking bays, installing street lighting, constructing pedestrian and cycling lanes, providing road signs and pedestrian crossings to enhance road safety, and landscaping.
Further, infrastructure services will be developed as part of the project, such as upgrading the stormwater drainage system to avoid water accumulation during the rainy season, and developing the existing potable water, irrigation and drainage networks, the statement notes.
In order to reduce the impact of construction works on the area’s residents and visitors during the project period, all entrances to residential areas and commercial establishments will remain open to traffic, in addition to maintaining the same number of lanes on A-Ring Road during the project period, Ashghal said.
The authority will also implement measures to reduce noise from construction works, such as using special equipment that produce less noise, implementing excavation works during certain hours of the day to minimise inconvenience to the area’s residents, and using water tanks to spray water during excavation works to minimise dust.