07 August 2004
DOHA: The much-awaited Al Asiri underpass at the Midmac junction on the Salwa road was opened to vehicular traffic yesterday at 4.30pm. The 1700m long underpass, which is part of a three-level project that includes the Al Asiri flyover opened in May, links the D-Ring Road with the Sudan roundabout and Al Jaida roundabout, leading to the Kharafa flyover and the northern part of the country.

The opening ceremony was attended by Zayed Mansoor Al Khayarin, general manager of the Public Works Authority (PWA), Col Mohammed Saad Al Kharji, director, Traffic department and several other senior officials.

The opening of the underpass is expected to reduce the heavy traffic felt on the D-Ring road since the closure of the Midmac junction and the connected roads for carrying out the project. Work on the other parts of the junction and the roundabouts and subways serving the areas that come under the project will be completed in the coming months, the officials said.

Mohammed Al Kharji said his department had made all arrangements to handle the traffic rush expected on the underpass and the Tadamun roundabout in the wake of the opening. Police has been deployed in the areas to avoid traffic jams.

He said radars will be installed at the underpass to monitor speeding vehicles and reduce accidents. The maximum speed limit allowed on the underpass is 100kmph, he added.

Engineer Hamad Al Rumaihi, director of the Al Asiri porejct said the opening of the underpass was delayed because the PWA didn't want to compromise on the quality of the work. He invited all Qatari nationals and expatriates to come and see the size of the project, which was implemented according to international standards.

Yhuj " We congratulate ourselves and all those who are going to use the facility for the successful completion of the project," he said. He hoped that traffic problems on the D-Ring road will end by the opening of the underpass. There are major projects on the anvil covering the Sudan and Al Jaida roundabouts and develop the whole D-Ring road, he added.

© The Peninsula 2004