* 82% of Al Wakra Main Road Upgrade Project works completed
The Public Works Authority (Ashghal) has announced the partial opening of the traffic signal known as Pearl Intersection in Al Wakra.
This follows the conversion of the roundabout there into an intersection as part of the Al Wakra Main Road Upgrade Project, in co-ordination with the General Directorate of Traffic, the authority said in a tweet on Saturday.
Saleh al-Sheibah from Ashghal's Highway Projects Department said 82% of the Al Wakra Main Road Upgrade Project works has been carried out so far. "Upon completion, it will improve traffic between Doha, Al Wakra and the southern areas," he added.
Ashghal has so far completed many components of the project. For instance, the intersection between Al Wakra Road and Ras Bu Fontas Street, which is located over Al Wakra Tunnel, has been opened. This is integrated with the Al Wakra station of Doha Metro.
The opening of the intersection, as well as Al Wakra Tunnel, has helped improve traffic between Doha and Al Wakra and provided free traffic flow for road users from Ras Bu Fontas station towards what is now the Pearl Intersection.
The development works include the conversion of the Pearl, Ooredoo and Afja (known as Jabal roundabout) roundabouts into signalised intersections. Additionally, the project involves the construction of two new signalled intersections on Al Razi Street and towards Al Wukair Road.
Ashghal had relocated and reinstalled the iconic Pearl structure near Al Farda Roundabout to enable the conversion of the Pearl Roundabout into a signal-controlled intersection.
Al Wakra Main Road serves a large number of neighbourhoods and residential and commercial complexes in Al Wakra and Al Wukair. The expressway project is key to enabling smooth traffic for commuters coming from Al Wakra and heading to Doha in the north and Mesaieed in the south.
Al Wakra Main Road provides a strategic link between Doha and Al Wakra as it is directly connected to the newly opened expressway projects of G-Ring Road and the southern part of Doha Expressway. Additionally, it serves residential complexes located on both the eastern and western sides of the road.
The upgrade of Al Wakra main road is one of the key projects of Qatar’s expressway network. It will have a significant and positive impact on traffic movement in the country’s southern areas and contribute to reducing pressure on existing roads in other areas of Al Wakra by 60%, Ashghal had said earlier.
Several leisure facilities are accessible via Al Wakra Main Road and it also integrates with other major roads such as G-Ring Road, Mesaieed Road and the southern part of Doha Expressway (Al Wakra Bypass Road), which is connected to Al Janoub Stadium, one of the venues hosting the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar.
