Wakrah Traffic. Salim Matramkot © The Peninsula
Doha: Road diversion on Al Wakra Road is creating lot of frustration among motorists as it is causing lot of traffic jam and confusion.
The hash tag in Arabic (roughly translated as #AlWakraAsthmaCrisis) is trending in Qatar from evening.
Some motorists complained that they found it difficult to enter Barwa Village while driving from Wakra side as the left turn is blocked.
Those heading towards Wakra from Doha and using the Airport road needs to take the new diversion, which is witnessing minor traffic jam as it becomes a 2-lane road suddenly.
Some motorists were complaining that if you miss the diversion to Wakra by mistake then you will end up on G-Ring road and the next exit is near Industrial area.
The confusion is expected to ease in the coming days as motorists will get used to the new layout of the road.
Many people are tweeting about their plights and using the hash tag to vent their frustration. One user said that it takes two hours for the distance he used to cover in 20 minutes. Another user said she takes 45 minutes to leave the area.
??? ???? ????? ?? ?????? ????? ?? ??????? ???? ??? ?? ????? ????? ?? ????? ??????? ??? ?? ????? .#????_??????_????_???
— Abdulla M. AL-Khater (@AMKAlkhater) April 23, 2017
(Rough translation: We used to visit our brother twice a week now it is once a month. Soon it will be once a year)
It's unbelievable to leave 2 hours earlier for a way that should only take you 20 minutes to arrive ???? @AshghalQatar #????_??????_????_???
— ??????? (@Al5ansa) April 23, 2017
Qatar Rail had announced earlier the diversion of part of Al Wakra Road between Al Wakra Roundabout and the Pearl Roundabout from April 23, 2017 to June 18, 2018. The diversion will take place for the construction of the Al Wakra Highway pedestrian underpass.
“Qatar Rail would like to take this opportunity to apologize for any inconvenience the public may experience due to the road diversion. In the meantime, and in line with the company's core principle to "Keep Doha Moving", traffic will be allowed to flow as shown on the map,” said a statement on their website.
