As part of Khalifa Avenue project, the Public Works Authority, ‘Ashghal’, opened on Saturday, 14 April 2018 Bani Hajer Interchange that will provide free flow traffic between Doha, Dukhan, Bani Hajer and Al Rayyan.The critical feeder was inaugurated by Eng. Youssef Al Emadi, Ashghal Expressway Department Manager, Brigadier Mohamed Marifiya, Traffic Engineering and Safety Department Manager, along with a number of Ashghal staff and project engineers and workers.Ashghal says that opening the multi-level interchange of Bani Hajer will get temporary diversions removed and get traffic shifted onto the permanent routes via the new junction, largely reducing transit time.Having a vital location, the Public Works Authority converted Bani Hajer Roundabout into a three-level interchange will create free movement to approximately 1500 vehicles per hour. As a result, the junction has become a key access point for three major arteries of Khalifa Avenue, Dukhan Road, and Al Rayyan Road along with the populated areas around.Junction BenefitsThe Khalifa Avenue carriageway opened four lanes in each direction for a distance of 2.4 kilometres long between Gharrafat Al Rayyan Interchange to Al Wajba Bridge, completing a total of 5.5 kilometres of Khalifa Avenue following the opening of 3.1 kilometres of the carriageway between western Tilted Interchange and Gharrafat Al Rayyan Interchange in December 2017. The milestones remarkably enhance the traffic movement from Doha to Dukhan in particular.The construction of a 1.3 km new flyover and underpass was accomplished to connect traffic heading from Al Rayyan Road towards Dukhan Road.Ashghal also opened two right ramps, one receives travellers coming from Doha to Bani Hajer via Khalifa Avenue and the other leads travellers coming from Bani Hajer to Dukhan via Al Shahama Street.Two more loops connecting with Bani Hajer Underpass were opened to link traffic coming from Dukhan to Bani Hajer and from Bani Hajer to Doha.The inauguration included a right turn to exit commuters coming from Al Rayyan Road to Khalifa Avenue towards Doha.However, opening another three routes was delayed: the first one is the flyover which allows traffic from Doha towards Al Rayyan, the second one is the road linking traffic from Dukhan towards Al Rayyan, and the third one is the Camel Bridge.On this occasion, Eng. Youssef Al Emadi, Expressway Department Manager, stressed that despite going by over 300 days, the unjust siege laid on Qatar had no effect upon the progress of the infrastructure projects implemented by Ashghal.“Ashghal has strived for the past months to maintain the pace of works and provided alternate local materials; more evidently is the fact that Bani Hajer Interchange was built by Qatari-made materials, using 35,000 square metre of concrete, 19,000 tons of asphalt and 6000 tons of reinforced steel”, he added.As far as Bani Hajer Interchange is concerned, Al Emadi pointed out that the new junction will improve traffic mobility and connectivity there since it will serve much congested and populated areas like Bani Hajer and Al Rayyan along with the key businesses and facilities like Qatar Foundation and Education City which are visited by thousands of people every day.Al Emadi revealed that approximately 68% of the project had been completed, noting that Khalifa Avenue Road to open to traffic by late 2018.For his part, Brigadier Mohamed Maarifiya highlighted that the new interchange would enhance traffic in the area, providing free movement leading from and to Doha, Dukhan, Bani Hajer and Al Rayyan, and will create easy access to Al Gharrafa and Al Wajba and the nearby vital businesses.Bani Hajer UnderpassThe Public Works Authority had opened Bani Hajer Underpass on 3 February 2018 to have two lanes in each direction that accommodate up to 4000 vehicles per hour in addition to a hard shoulder. Ashghal had also installed all necessary utility works including drainage systems, as well as lights and signage to ensure the safety of road usersThe Bani Hajer Underpass is a key access point in the area, largely serving residents of Bani Hajer and Al Rayyan as it connects Al Shahama Street in Bani Hajer with Al Rayyan Al Jadeed Street in Al Rayyan.Road users travelling from from Al Shahama Street, can now enjoy direct access via the free flowing underpass to Al Rayyan Al Jadeed Street and Al Rayyan and vice versa.Khalifa AvenueThe Public Works Authority, ‘Ashghal’, had also opened on 14/12/2017, a 3.1 kilometre-long section of the main carriageway of Khalifa Avenue to stretch from west of Tilted Interchange to east of Bani Hajer Interchange.The opening alleviates traffic congestion on the main road and the local approaches in Al Al Gharrafa and Bani Hajer and improving traffic movement for the residents there.Ashghal also opened Al Wajba Bridge after upgrading the old bridge from two lanes into three lanes, allowing for better traffic flow.Ashghal also opened Al Wajba Bridge after upgrading the old bridge from two lanes into three lanes, allowing for better traffic flow.First ever in Qatar, a newly designed roundabout opened; the main road which is the straight section for traffic on Khalifa Avenue goes through the center of the signalized roundabout. The interchange links north Gharrafat Al Rayyan Street, south Qatar Foundation and west and east Al Luqta Street.Khalifa Avenue project runs from the Al-Wajbah Palace Interchange (west) to the Tilted Interchange (east) and along Al-Gharrafa Road from Al-Rayyan Street (south) to Thani bin Jassim Street (north).The project works include the construction of approximately 11.6 km of dual carriageway with four lanes in each direction replacing a three-lane way besides seven major free-flowing interchanges, service roads, and auxiliary lanes along sections of the road.;