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QNA
Doha
THE Public Works Authority (Ashghal) has announced the completion of a number of road projects ahead of Eid Al Adha and the new academic year to reduce traffic congestion.
Messila tunnel will be opened to traffic on Wednesday, as part of Phase 2 of Al Rayyan Road Development Project. This is in addition to the opening of Jassim Bin Hamad Street, which is directly connected to Al Rayyan Road that has been expanded, and the partial opening of the Old Traffic Roundabout, which is being converted to a signal-controlled intersection.
This opening is part of a series of upcoming openings in the coming days, which include the Ali Bin Abi Talib Street, the TV and Sports intersections and the two tunnels beneath the Pearl Interchange.
Messila tunnel, located under Al Rayyan Road and 800 metres to the west of the Olympic Roundabout, is the first construction achievement in Phase 2 of Al Rayyan Road Development Project.
The project includes the 2-km of Al Rayyan Road with four lanes in each direction and Messila tunnel which stretches under Al Rayyan Road and links Jassim Bin Hamad Street and Al Rayyan Road, including two lanes in each direction. The tunnel also comprises an exit loop to and from Al Rayyan Road and to Messila tunnel with two lanes in each direction.
The project also includes a U-turn above Messila tunnel as well as the entrances and service roads linking Al Rayyan Road and Jassim Bin Hamad Street.
The newly-opened 2-km stretch of the main road has been expanded to four lanes in each direction, which will increase the road's capacity from 5,700 vehicles to 7,600 per hour. It will reduce traffic congestion, especially with the opening of service roads and entrances that will facilitate movement from Jassim Bin Hamad Street to Al Rayyan Road and vice versa.
Messila tunnel will enable access from Dukhan, Bani Hajar and New Al Rayyan to Jassim Bin Hamad Street via the service road located east of Al Rayyan Road, and by using the tunnels loop to reach Jassim Bin Hamad Street. This was not possible before the opening of Messila tunnel, as vehicles coming from Dukhan could not reach Jassim Bin Hamad Street through Al Rayyan Road.
The new tunnel will also facilitate direct access from Madinat Khalifa to Al Rayyan Road. In the past, travellers from Madinat Khalifa had to go through a number of local roads and traffic diversions to reach the Olympic Roundabout, which is a 20-minute journey.
Now with the opening of Messila tunnel, travellers can use the tunnel on Jassim Bin Hamad Street and take the loop to enter Al Rayyan Road and from it to the Olympic Roundabout in about eight minutes. This will shorten the journey time by 60 percent compared to the use of internal roads and the previous traffic diversions.
