The Salwa Road expansion project, one of the major infrastructure initiatives undertaken by Qatar’s Public Works Authority (Ashghal), is expected to be complete within the first half of this year after missing the December 2012 deadline.
Gulf Times had reported in September 2012 that an April 2013 completion is likely with the delay being attributed to the massive scale of the project and the intense heat of the past two summers.
Ashghal had assessed in August 2012 that the Salwa Road expansion works had reached 70% completion and predicted a mid-2013 completion.
The project’s pace has quickened over the past couple of months with the onset of winter. Work is progressing round the clock on completing the tunnels under the four intersections – Ain Khaled, Al Azizia, Central Market and Qatar Decoration (Al Bustan) – where traffic signals are installed and operational now.
The project also covers laying of huge sewer lines, new asphalt pavements, installation of street lights, traffic signs and building infrastructure for an integrated transport system, among others.
Operators of businesses and residents of the area are eagerly awaiting the completion of the project, work on which began in July 2010.
The Salwa Road expansion project had been awarded by Ashghal to a joint-venture of Yuksel-Midmac in June 2010. Work began in July 2010 from the Ain Khalid side, following which the roundabout was enlarged and reconnected to the mainline on January 1, 2011. The highway, which goes all the way to Abu Samra where Qatar’s only land border with another country – Saudi Arabia – is located, is being expanded to four lanes on each side.
The project utilizes an integrated traffic system with cameras installed at various construction points for monitoring. When work on the Salwa Road is complete, it will offer non-stop traffic flow and road access towards Abu Samra. The Salwa Road starts from the Jaidah Bridge. Once past the Industrial Area Interchange, the road becomes the 81km-long Salwa International Highway and leads to Saudi Arabia.
Gulf times
3 January
