Qatar has unveiled a project called the Sabah Al Ahmad Corridor to help ease traffic flow between the south and north of Doha.

Named after Emir of Kuwait, the corridor will span approximately 25km from Hamad International Airport to Umm Lekhba Interchange, also called Landmark Interchange.

The total road works for the project stretches nearly 37km. The corridor will feature a cable-stayed bridge, along with a large intersection, and a deep, long bi-directional tunnel.

Scheduled to become operational by 2021, the Sabah Al Ahmad Corridor project will comprise the upgrade of seven main roads. These roads are E Ring, F Ring, Mesaimeer, Bu Erayyen, Al Bustan, Lebday and sections of Al Markhiya Street.

Furthermore, the Public Works Authority of Qatar, Ashghal, will enhance 12km of local and peripheral roads intersecting with the corridor.

Once operational, the project will provide an alternative route to the busy 22 February Street and help to cut traffic on Doha Expressway.

“People travelling from Hamad International Airport are expected to reach Umm Lekhba Intersection in 18 minutes, down from the current 50 minutes.”

Alongside doubling traffic capacity, the corridor will link the south of the country to the north through Doha by connecting the Doha Expressway with the southern part through Al Wakra Bypass.

People travelling from Hamad International Airport are expected to reach Umm Lekhba Intersection in 18 minutes, down from the current 50 minutes, cutting travel time by 70%.

As part of the plan, the existing three lanes road in each direction will be upgraded to between four and five lanes in each direction. This will help accommodate almost 20,000 vehicles an hour in both directions on the corridor.

The plan also includes converting all roundabouts to more efficient and safer signalised junctions, along with constructing and upgrading 17 interchanges.

These interchanges will include construction of 32 bridges and 12 vehicular underpasses to help improve connectivity and provide smooth traffic movements. In addition, there will be 12 pedestrian bridges.

As part of the project, a 65km-long pedestrian and cycle paths will also be developed, along with 1.5 million square metres of landscaping.