Doha: The Public Works Authority (Ashghal) has inaugurated main carriageway and three vital interchanges on Al Khor Road, in the presence of H E Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani, Prime Minister and Minister of Interior.

The opening of the 33-kilometre Al Khor Road main carriageway, 5 lanes in each direction, linking Doha to Al Khor was delivered one year ahead of schedule, which was originally set to open in the second quarter of 2020. Simaisma Interchange, the interchange on Al Majd Road and the interchange on Al Turfa Street are now fully open to traffic.

Alternative to Al Shamal Road

Al Khor Road main carriageway serves as an alternative to Al Shamal Road as it allows road users coming from Al Khor to reach their desired destinations while saving travel time by up to 65% compared to the same journey via Al Shamal Road. The new road layout will considerably upgrade the vehicular capacity from 8,000 to 20,000 vehicles per hour in both directions.

The newly opened road is strategically linked with major expressways such as Al Majd Road which creates interconnectivity with numerous major highways allowing free flow navigation across western and southern areas of Qatar.

On this occasion, H E Jassim bin Saif Al Sulaiti, Minister of Transport and Communications, said that the special design of Al Khor Road allows for the wide central median to accommodate the rail line, which would provide additional means of transportation to residents in the areas it traverses. The opening of Al Khor Road will connect Al Khor to Doha in approximately 20 minutes.

H E Abdullah bin Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Subaie, Minister of Municipality and Environment, stated that Al Khor Road provides access to multiple regions from north to Doha, especially that it serves more than 20 residential areas such as Al Khor, Lusail and the Pearl as well as areas located east of Al Shamal Road like Al Kheesa, Al Ebb and Leabib.

Dr Saad bin Ahmed Al Mohannadi, the President of the Public Works Authority “Ashghal” expressed his pride in opening the Al Khor Road one year ahead of its scheduled time and three and a half years before the 2022 FIFA World Cup as it links Al Bayt Stadium to Lusail Stadium.

He explained that Al Khor Roads’s connection with roads that are interlinked to Al Shamal Road also allows traffic coming from western and southern areas to reach Doha using an alternative route to Doha Expressway.

The main carriageway
Ashghal has fully opened the 33-kilometre long main carriageway extending from Al Khor Road in Al Khor to Qatar University Street in Doha. The upgraded road has 5 lanes in each direction in addition to two emergency lanes.

New interchanges
Al Khor Road is composed of 10 multi-level interchanges, 6 of which provide free flow connection to main roads such as Simaisma Road, Al Majd Road and Al Turfa Street and facilitate access to Al Shamal Road and Lusail Expressway. These interchanges comprise of 8 bridges, 22 underpasses and a camel crossing to connect Lusail’s Reserves.

Simaisma Interchange:
Located on the intersection of Al Khor Road with Simaisma Road, this interchange includes a main bridge, 4 loops and 4 right exits to provide free flow connectivity in all directions for road users coming from Al Shamal Road and Al Khor Road. It is considered as the main access to the city of Simaisma and a direct link to Umm Qarn area.

 Al Khor Road intersection with Al Majd Road:
This two-level interchange consists of a main bridge connecting Lusail City to Al Majd Road and Al Shamal Road via Al Mazrooah Interchange. It also includes 4 loops and 4 exits to connect Lusail City, Rawdat Al Hamama, Al Kheesa, Al Sakhama, Umm Slal and Al Mazrooah areas.
Besides its significant role in linking multiple residential areas, this interchange makes it easy for road users coming from Doha and Al Khor to reach Lusail and Al Bayt Stadium in a record time to attend all the games of 2022 FIFA World Cup Stadiums.

Al Khor Road intersection with Al Turfa Street:
Considered as the two-level main entrance to Lusail City, this interchange will facilitate access of traffic coming from Al Shamal Road via Izghawa Interchange and Al Turfa Street and heading towards Lusail and Doha. Its special design, also known as partial cloverleaf is composed of 2 loops and 4 right exits delivers a free traffic flow movement between Lusail, Al Ebb, Leabib, Al Turfa and Izghawa. Further to these deliverables, this interchange also includes a main bridge to allow traffic coming from Al Turfa Street to continue north on Al Khor Road.

Remaining sections
Ashghal is working on completing the remaining sections of the road which include the construction of 34 kilometres of an Olympic cycle track on one side of the carriageway and 33 kilometres of shared paths for pedestrians and cyclists on the other side, as well as the construction of 42 pedestrian and cycle underpasses.

Al Khor Expressway and Al Majd Road:
The opening of Al Majd Road in February 2019 has significantly contributed in linking traffic coming from Al Khor Road and vice versa especially that Al Majd Road intersects with all other arterial roads in the country such as Al Shamal Road, Dukhan Road, Salwa Road to Mesaieed Road. Therefore, residents of Doha and the eastern areas of the country are now able to use Doha Expressway to access all the external areas bypassing the centre of Doha. Residents of West Bay, Lusail and the surrounding areas can easily access Al Wakra and Al Wukair and vice versa using Al Majd Road and the new Al Khor Road.