Traffic management and existing traffic challenges in Doha
Eng. Zeina Nazer looks at what Qatar’s recently-announced investment in transport infrastructure will mean on the ground.
With the infrastructure projects Qatar aims to deliver world-class transport infrastructure that would also act as a great impulse to the growth agenda of neighbouring countries. As such the Qatari government has committed over US$140 billion for investment, infrastructure and expansion in a wide range of sectors, including energy, health, education, transport, infrastructure and tourism. The country’s National Vision 2030 and National Strategy 2011-16 have instigated a large number of infrastructure projects.
There are four key drivers for the planned projects. These are supporting Qatar’s National Vision 2030, facilitating events including the 2022
The projects currently planned, along with the resources allocated are positioning Qatar on a path which leads the way towards Smarter Cities through the use of ITS applications.
The total GCC spending amounts to US$58 billion, with Qatar allocating approximately US$12.5 billion on improving and creating road networks. Over 29 road projects have been announced for Qatar worth over US$9.5 million. Qatar’s ongoing major road projects include: Lusail Expressway Package 2, Orbital Highway and Truck Road, Ras Laffan to Mesaieed Expressway, Dukhan Highway, Doha Bay Crossing, Road Interchanges for the Al Khor Expressway and Doha Expressway – Qatar’s first freeway.
Part of the Qatar National Vision 2030 aims to support a sustainable country and move from a carbon-based to a knowledge-based economy. Many of these aims are in line with the Smart City goals and it is recognised that intelligent transport systems (ITS) will play an important role.
Deployments of ITS solutions are planned across all modes of transport for both urban and inter-urban networks for smarter mobility of people, goods and services. ITS solutions will include tunnel management systems, incident detection, lane and speed control signs, weigh in motion, over height vehicle detection and weather sensors. There will also be dynamic message signs (DMS), red light and speed cameras, commercial freight management, Bluetooth systems to record vehicle journey times, tolling and automatic number plate recognition.
Qatar’s short-term plan includes major improvements to the public transport and its longer-term plan is to deliver a world class integrated and environmentally friendly transport infrastructure that accommodates emerging technologies include E-Car sharing and driverless vehicles.
Between Lusail City and The Pearl, the market size for system integrators is expected to be US$6.47 billion from 2013-2017 and over the same the market for service providers for these two developments is expected to be worth US$2.1 billion.
The Expressway Programme
Ashghal’s Expressway Programme will transform the way people and places are connected across Qatar. The Expressway Programme supports Ashghal’s vision of “Qatar Deserves the Best”, and the state-wide road masterplan for Qatar, which has been formulated to relieve traffic congestion and provide an efficient and safe road network.The Program is a direct response to the Qatar National Vision 2030 that will cater to significant growth and development in the country. It will provide vital transportation links across Qatar connecting key cities, towns and villages with high quality national freeways and urban arterial routes. The Programme will deliver over 900km of new roads and an array of underpasses, flyovers and multi-level interchanges to enable free-flowing traffic and improved journey times. It is a seven year programme (2010-2017) delivering 240 major interchanges ranging from conventional traffic lights, to four level interchanges with tunnels and flyovers with more than 30 major projects to be delivered. There are new and upgraded freeways, expressways and arterial roads across Qatar. The Expressway Programme will provide a national roads network capable of sustaining the future development and expansion of a world-class infrastructure within Qatar. Currently there are 10 Expressway projects under construction including Lusail Expressway.
Lusail Expressway Project
The Lusail Expressway project is part of Ashghal’s Expressway Programme and will provide a vital connection into Doha’s fast growing Lusail City Development area which is currently under construction. It will upgrade the existing Al Istiqlal Road from south of the Al Wahda (Arch) roundabout to north of the North Canal Crossing, and Onaiza Street. The proposed 5.3km expressway will comprise of four lanes of highway throughout, with additional lanes to provide for traffic movement between the interchanges. The project includes three large interchanges and has key interfaces with the Pearl, Katara Cultural Village, Lusail City Development, Diplomatic area, residential and commercial areas and the future Sharq Crossing.Existing major development areas such as the Pearl and Katara Cultural Village will also benefit greatly from the project with improved interchanges and better journey times for residents, businesses and visitors to the area.
With its complex network of tunnels, flyovers and junctions, the Lusail Expressway will respond to future traffic demands and deliver a modern road network that will connect people and places with speed and ease. The project includes three major interchanges which will completely transform the way people move in and around the area.
The Public Works Authority (Ashghal) is leading the development and deployments of ITS solutions with a vision that by 2020, the State of Qatar will have the most accessible, and technologically advanced transportation network in the world. These solutions will aim to deliver the ‘world’s best’ integrated and managed transportation system providing accurate, reliable and user-friendly information for travellers throughout Qatar using ITS solutions.
Qatar’s master plan objective was to develop a comprehensive strategy to set the direction and pace of ITS investments within Qatar for the next five years with the priority focussing on traffic management, road safety, highways operations, road maintenance and parking. The 2012-2020 ITS action plan includes the development, implementation and operation of an ITS Governing Body of both public and private sectors and the deployment of roadway ITS, a multi-modal traveller information system, a national transportation management centre (TMC) and a transportation data archive operated by Qatar Ashghal.
There will also be ITS components for commercial vehicle operations, fleet management systems, a connected vehicle program and a smart work zone program. In addition the plan envisages a roadway asset management program and traffic regulation enforcement program along with a roadway incident management, ITS parking management and an integrated payment mechanism for the transportation network.
The main objectives from the identified ITS Strategies are to enhance safety, facilitate smoother traffic flow and improve customers’ satisfaction while reducing the environmental impact.
Major challenges
Qatar is committed to one of the most ambitious economic development programmes in the world which is on an unprecedented scale in a small country. While funds are available to meet Qatar’s infrastructure commitment there are still many complex challenges. The solutions are largely ready for use and, compared with other infrastructure investments, do not require a lot of money to roll out but they do require an intelligent approach.These challenges include careful planning and scheduling to ensure the megaprojects such as the new Doha Metro, Doha Port and the new Doha International Airport can be completed simultaneously. These have to be completed within an ambitious time frame as Qatar needs to complete transport projects worth a total of US$57.38 billion in time for the FIFA World Cup in 2022. While funds are available to meet Qatar’s infrastructure commitment, there are concerns over whether Qatar has the logistical capacity to manage such a large investment programme, with concerns particularly high over material supply and manpower.
Additionally, Qatar’s cities have a great opportunity to accelerate and sustain progress in their smarter journey. As cities in Qatar continue to mature, talent becomes an increasingly valued resource, especially when combined with technological innovation. The core systems of a city are transport, government services and education, public safety and health. Those elements profoundly influence the quality of life and the attractiveness of a city.
Besides Doha, Lusail is the newest city in Qatar and is designed as the city of the future. Other important cities known for oil and tourism hubs include Dukhan, Al Khor and Ras Laffan. Each city will set its own vision, identify existing resources and use the information to optimise services, add innovation to make a sustainable future a reality and drive collaboration between global and local players across the whole smart city chain value.
It is an exciting time for smarter cities in Qatar. Doha can soon become one of the smart cities in the world in the information and communications technology landscape with its rapid adoption of modern trends of the digital age.
• Eng. Zeina Nazer is Secretary General of
