Ashghal promises to relocate Clock Tower
The city may have lost yet another landmark with the removal of the VIP roundabout, which is being converted to an intersection, but Public Works Authority — Ashghal — has assured that the roundabout’s famous Clock Tower will be preserved and relocated.
Ashghal said yesterday that it had appointed a specialised company to remove and relocate the Clock Tower without damaging the structure. It will be reinstalled at a location designated by the Ministry of Municipality and Urban Planning.
The signal-controlled intersection replacing the VIP roundabout (Umm Ghuwailina Roundabout) is part of a major overhaul of the C-Ring Road, a key artery in Doha, which is underway.
Ashghal said it had made considerable progress on the first phase of the C-Ring Road Development Project.
Laying the pre-final layer of asphalt on the newly added lanes on the intersection is in progress and Ashghal will soon start installing traffic lights and connecting them to Intelligent Transportation System (ITS).
As part of the project, Ashghal has upgraded existing infrastructure utilities in the area in addition to laying asphalt on both sides of the road stretching from Umm Ghuwailina Roundabout to Najma Intersection.
The first phase of the project, which started last month, stretches from Umm Ghuwailina Roundabout to midway between Najma and Al Mansoura intersections.
It aims to widen the road to four lanes in each direction and convert Umm Ghuwailina Roundabout to a signal-controlled intersection.
The full works on the first phase of the project are expected to be completed as per schedule in the third quarter of this year.
Ashghal said since the commencement of the project, it has addressed several issues raised by the local community such as providing alternative parking space for businesses and coordination with companies to remove signage in the street to allow for construction work.
i agree not many would care...but i do...i've grown up next to that tower and as kids we used it to know when it was time to go home from our games and play...when i grew up into a rebellious anti social element, i learned to drift my mom' car around that very tower..i had my first crash there too haha..good it's being preserved..
I wonder how many people really care. How many people have approached this roundabout and actually looked at the time on the clock? Would anyone complain if it was destroyed and a flat, straight piece of road replaced it?