Ashghal to revamp road direction signs

The consultant will complete the design of Directional Sign Development Strategy by the end of 2019.

The contract includes reviewing, updating and developing of all existing directional signs, as well as providing new signs in line with design standards within the directional signs strategy. It also provides clear information to help road users to reach various destinations in the country, while reducing travel time and accidents since road users will be able to set their routes in advance, then gradually and safely adjust them as they approach the intended exit without the need to make a last-minute change exposing them and others to risk.

The signs will be implemented in accordance with international standards, with attention to the installation inappropriate and clear locations to enable the driver to read the information written on them and make it easy to see it clearly day and night. The standardisation of the signs will add an aesthetic characteristic to the main roads in Qatar.

Characteristics of the Directional Signs

The names of areas, roads, streets, symbols and some colours are used on directional signs on main roads and expressways in the country to categorise and identify these roads, making it easy to describe how to reach the destination using only the code of the road and the number of exits.

One of the most important symbols used on the directional signs are the symbols “Q”, which are used for the identification and numbering of the expressways that cross the main areas in the country from North to South and from East to West or through them. Example of expressway symbol: “Q2” and “Q4” symbolising Al Majd Road.

The symbol “D” is also an important symbol used to identify the main roads, which cross the main areas and intersect with the expressways “Q”. Example of the Main roads symbol: “D6” which symbolises Sabah Al Ahmad Corridor.

Other symbols are also used to identify important destinations and places of interest such as the ball symbol, which symbolises the football stadiums, and the plane symbol, which symbolises Hamad International Airport.

Also in some cases, some destinations are written on the surface of the asphalt road where it is difficult to add road signs.

Some directional signs are equipped with intelligent transport systems (ITS) to illustrate some information of interest to the driver such as lane closed, busy road – used alternative road, etc.

The project will serve all segments of society; citizens and residents, and will contribute to the promotion of tourism by introducing tourists to the locations of the most important tourist destinations in many regions of the country.