Qatar's public works authority Ashghal has started work on the A-Ring Road Development Project, which is aimed at enhancing traffic flow and easing congestion in central Doha.

The project is being developed in five phases and once completed, the number of lanes will increase from two to four in each direction along the 6.7-km road, said a statement from Ashghal.

The public works authority has already started implementing Phase One of the project. Work on the other four phases will start in the next few months and will be completed by the end of next year, it stated.

This is in addition to developing some streets running perpendicular to A-Ring Road, and developing service roads on both sides of the road, said Ashghal in the statement.

Mohamed Arqoub Al Khaldi, head of Doha City projects in Ashghal’s Roads Projects Department, said: "The importance of the project is that it will develop a vital road characterised by heavy traffic movement as it connects many commercial and residential areas as well as development projects in Doha such as Msheireb Downtown Doha."

The A-Ring Road project includes the development of nine intersections, which will contribute to enhancing traffic flow and improving movement in the area, he noted.

The scope of work includes converting Dar Al Kutub Roundabout into a signal-controlled intersection as well as developing Al Rifaa, Al Diwan, Hamad Al Kabeer, Nasser Bin Khaled, Al Kahrabaa, Msheireb, Al Asmakh and Sofitel intersections.

The project also includes increasing the number of parking bays, installing streetlighting, constructing pedestrian and cycling lanes, providing road signs and pedestrian crossings to enhance road safety, and landscaping, said the statement from Ashghal.

The project will also see upgradation of the stormwater drainage system in the city to curb water accumulation during the rainy season, and developing the existing potable water, irrigation and drainage networks, it added.-TradeArabia News Service