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Santhosh Chandran
AL RAYYAN
Qatar's longest road tunnel will open for traffic on Friday, the Public Works Authority has announced.
Constructed as part of the Al Jahhaniya Interchange on Dukhan Highway, the 1.5-km tunnel connects Mall of Qatar, one of the largest commercial properties in the outskirts of Doha, to Dukhan Highway.
The tunnel will facilitate a free-flowing one-way traffic underneath the Al Jahhaniya Interchange that will offer motorists seamless movement towards Doha.
"The tunnel, which offers exit from Mall of Qatar, has 34 structural units, with sophisticated mechanical and electrical equipment. It has a central control room to monitor the operation of the roadway on a 24 hour basis, ensuring safety and protection of road users," Project Manager of Dukhan Highway Project Nasser al Kuwari told media persons on Wednesday.
Approximately 95 percent work on Al Jahhaniya Interchange at a cost of QR1.28 billion has been completed.
Al Jahhaniya Interchange will also provide access to Emiri Guard, Al Rayyan Stadium, Al Rufaa Celebration Hall Complex, Al Rayyan Metro station and Mall of Qatar.
Ashghal has also constructed parallel internal corridors to provide an emergency exit for pedestrians and ventilation systems to ensure the tunnel has sufficient air levels at all times.
Ashghal began excavating land for the 1.5 km tunnel in 2014, moving over 450,000 cubic metres of material. Approximately 125,000 cubic metres of concrete and close to 10,000 tonnes of asphalt were utilised to build the new transport route.
The completion of the tunnel is one of several milestones achieved on the Dukhan Highway Central project in the past month, with the project team completing a 2.2 km extension of Al Rufaa Street and multiple link roads and flyovers connecting the Dukhan Highway.
The extension of Al Rufaa Street will create direct access points for road users to and from North Road to Doha, providing two lanes in each direction and enhancing mobility to key public venues, including the Al Rufaa Celebration Hall Complex.
Another tunnel connecting Rayyan Stadium with the existing tunnel road and Dukhan Highway is under construction.
The project is expected to be complete in the first quarter of 2017 and will establish a 15 km strategic link from the west of Doha to Al Sheehaniya and other key future public venues and residential areas. It will also include 2.2 km extension of Al Rufaa Street and other flyovers and local link roads.
The project is being constructed by a joint venture between Consolidated Contractors Group and Teyseer, with WS Atkins & Partners Overseas serving as the supervision consultant.
