Underpass at Al Wakrah roundabout to be ready by Q1 next year: Al Mesfir

DOHA: The construction work of an underpass at Al Wakrah roundabout (Abdul Ghani Roundabout) will be completed by the first quarter of next year.

“The street, starting from Abdul Ghani roundabout to Ooredoo roundabout, will be developed to include three intersections and all roundabouts in that stretch will be replaced by traffic signals from Abdul Ghani Roundabout to Ooredoo roundabout,” said Eng Captain Mohamed Mesfir (below) of the Traffic Safety and Engineering Department.

Captain Al Mesfir was speaking at a symposium organised by the General Directorate of Traffic at Al Wakra as part of Ramadan awareness campaign. The event was attended by a number of traffic officers and Mansour bin Ahmed bin Yousef Al Khater, council member of Al Wakra and a number of Al Wakra citizens.The symposium focused on Al Wakrah traffic problems and construction projects.

Mesfir also added that the country is preparing to host the world cup in 2022. The construction of bridges and underpasses take more time and that is why some road projects are expected to include underpasses and bridges but it will covered in the next phase.

“For example the Sports Roundabout in Al Saad, built with investment of QR40 to QR50m, was first planned to be a underpass but it was converted to traffic signals because of the current requirements.

Colonel Mohammed Radhi Al Hajri, Director of Media and Traffic Awareness Department said the aim of the meeting in Al Wakra is to sit with citizen and listen to their problems they are facing with General Directorate of Traffic and to note their suggestions.

Al Hajri, replying question about cruelty in imposing violations by police patrols, said “Any resident has the right to object on some fines and violations in case he consider it as unjustified.

“The Grievance Committee at the Department receives these complains and can cancel some violations depending on condition of the cases.”

Major Jaber Mohamed Rashid Odaiba, Assistant Director of Media and Traffic Awareness Department, said that there will be smart police vehicles soon which will be equipped with cameras can take pictures and video.

“Such smart vehicles will solve behaviour of some motorists who run behind police cars to avoid traffic congestion. These vehicles have rear camera to catch such violations.”

Mansour bin Ahmed bin Yousef Al Khater, Council Member of Al Wakrah,  said that they are satisfied with the services provided by Traffic Department, Municipality and Ashghal and the level of satisfaction is about 75 percent.

“We have made a recommendation to the Central Municipal Council (CMC) to increase Al Wukair General Street to be a two- lane instead of one, and to include also traffic lights.”