Ashghal completes road safety works for 518 schools

While making preparations for the new academic year, the Public Works Authority (Ashghal) has completed the improvement of road safety features surrounding 518 schools across the country, accounting for 91% of the total number of schools.

An Ashghal statement said that the works were carried as part of the School Zone Safety Programme.According to a study conducted by the Ministry of Education and Higher Education (MoEHE), Ashghal co-ordinated with the Ministry of Interior (MoI) and the National Road Safety Committee to identify school areas in need of development.This year priority was given to 568 schools across various areas in Qatar.Safety plans are being implemented for 41 schools, and plans have been completed for two schools.The works are expected to commence as soon as necessary approvals are obtained from concerned entities in the country.In addition, road safety plans are being designed for seven schools.It is worth noting that 100% of schools included in the School Zone Safety Programme are in different stages of implementation.Engineer Hassen al-Hamadi, head of Highways Operation and Maintenance Section, said that Ashghal continues to implement a comprehensive and continuous plan with international standards to ensure road safety features are in place on the roads surrounding schools.This is while enhancing security and safety of students, parents and staff.“Ashghal gives this programme high priority, as it is one of the key elements to achieve the National Road Safety Strategy (2018 – 2022). It aims to ease traffic congestion in these areas, separate vehicles from pedestrians, and improve unpaved roads to achieve higher safety levels, ensuring safe entry and exit of students and parents from schools,” al-Hamadi said.“Works implemented by the Roads Operation and Maintenance Department at Ashghal include the establishment and development of roads with the highest level of safety in the school zones by providing designated car parks, and building medians and small roundabouts in order to manage traffic flow in those areas,” he said.“In addition, a number of directional signs were installed and road markings provided near schools to alert drivers of the speed limit, set at 30kph,” the Ashghal official explained.Speed humps with particular specifications are installed for speed reduction, in addition to creating safe pedestrian paths for road users and people with special needs, while upgrading and maintaining pedestrian paths at the entrances and exits of schools.Moreover, to ensure safe entrances to schools that overlook main streets, brightly-coloured rumble strips are placed to alert drivers when arriving or leaving the school district, with clear warning signals to ensure the safety of the entire school community.