Ashghal plans 107km north-south highway

Ashghal (Public Works Authority) will build a highway connecting the north and south of the country, specifically for the heavy industrial traffic, a senior official said yesterday.

During a presentation on the first day of MEED Qatar Projects 2011, which covered the autonomous government body’s road plans until 2014, Saad al-Misnad, adviser, Ashghal president office, said the New Orbital Highway was part of Ashghal’s 2011-2012 fiscal year plans.

Ashghal is set to spend QR70bn ($20bn) on infrastructure upgrades, with most of it going towards building of roads and highways until 2014.

Projects in 2010-11 fiscal year number seven, at a length of 57km, feature 23 interchanges and will take 24- 36 months to be completed. Some of these are: Lusail project (5.5km, 3 interchanges, 4-7 lanes), Dukhan East (7km, 5 interchanges, 4 lanes; in each direction, 2 frontage lanes), Dukhan Central (15km, 4 interchanges, 4 lanes, 2 frontages) and Salwa Road (7km, 4 interchanges, 4 lanes, 2 frontages).

“Some of the 2010-11 projects are already underway, as in the case of Salwa Road. Around 80% design of the Lusail project is also completed,” al-Misnad said.

But it is the 2011-12 cycle that sees the largest number of projects – 13, featuring 34 interchanges, 3-6 lanes, and 1-3 frontage lanes, to be completed in 12-36 months.

Foremost will be the New Orbital Highway, a 107km, four-lane truck route so heavy traffic can bypass Doha. Another will be the East-West Corridor with 15km, 5 interchanges and 4 lanes with provision to upgrade to 6 lanes if required.

Most of the projects in 2012-13 are under concept stage. They include the 17km-long Al Firousiya-Huwar-Khafji project as well as Al Rayyan-Al Bustan-Khalifa Road measuring 26km.

Roads totalling 61km will be commissioned in this fiscal year.

“The Rayyan project’s design should be ready in eight months following which it is expected to be tendered,” the official said. The 2013-14 cycle features five projects, totalling 75kms in length.

The more important one will be the Jemiliya-Shahaniya project, a 31km link road with 2 lanes and 2 roundabouts.

“Ashghal has sectionalised Qatar in four zones and will put a consultant each for area’s infrastructure projects which include utilities and drainage.

This will then be linked through programme management consultants to have the same standard,” al-Misnad said.

The zones are north and south, Doha, Doha West and Doha North. According to him, Ashghal is encouraging foreign companies, who win project tenders, to team with up local contractors in a move which will help the outsiders get swift local support and see the local companies enhance their expertise.

Qatar-based contractors can bid for jobs worth up to QR100mn. For contracts between QR100mn and QR200mn, local companies can bid, providing they can prove sufficient technical and financial capabilities. Joint ventures can also bid, providing the local firm’s share is not less than 51%.

For contracts worth more than QR200mn, in addition to local fi rms and joint ventures, Ashghal’s policy is to allow foreign companies, providing they utilise a minimum of 30% of either local work or material, of the total project value, the official said.