The Public Works Authority ‘Ashghal’ continues construction works on the Expressway Programme which comprises over 30 projects divided into 46 contracts. The Expressway Programme is expected to deliver about 1000 km of safe and efficient roads, in addition to approximately 360 bridges and 240 interchanges which will provide vital transportation links across Qatar connecting cities, towns and urban arterial routes.
The Programme also includes the construction and development of an integrated infrastructure network for roads, equipped with state-of-the-art, reliable underground utilities, including stormwater networks, electrical networks, intelligent transport systems drinking water network, and surface water drainage network. Additionally, the programme includes improving street lighting and traffic light systems, providing service roads and pedestrian and cycle paths, as well as landscaping works.
These new projects will create an integrated network of main roads and highways that serves all areas of the country to accommodate Qatar's future traffic demands and as the projects progress their positive impact will gradually appear notably in terms of having less traffic congestion and reduced journey times.
There are currently 19 projects under construction while the remaining projects are still in design or will enter the procurement phase soon.
The following report features the progress of construction works on the New Orbital Highway and Truck Route, one of the key projects in the Expressway Programme.
Overview of the New Orbital Highway and Truck Route Project:
The New Orbital Highway and Truck Route "Orbital" forms a fundamental part of the Public Works Authority's Expressway Programme to construct a highway network, to international expressway standards which will significantly transform road travel within Qatar.
The Orbital is considered a vital addition to the road network of Qatar as it will form a free flowing traffic route without the need to travel through Doha city, helping to alleviate congestion, better manage heavy vehicle movement. The orbital will relieve traffic congestion within Doha and offer the people of Qatar an alternate route with faster journey times when travelling between Al Khor in the north, and Mesaieed in the south. It will be a safe swift, efficient, and high quality highway and provide better connectivity for Mesaieed Industrial City, and Ras Laffan Industrial City.
Providing the backbone of Qatar's growing road network the Orbital will see the construction of around 200Km of new dual carriageway and 22 multi-level interchanges, typically four and five lanes with the capacity of adding two more lanes on either side. The infrastructure of the Orbital road will include passways for camels, weighing stations, side road parking bays, storm water drainage, ITS and control systems, green landscape and metal beam guardrails on both sides of the roads.
Designed with road users in mind, the new highway and truck route provides heavy vehicles with their own separate roadway, allowing traffic to flow freely and safely along main expressways. The Orbital will become nationally significant in the movement of people and good around the country. It is designed to manage up to 1500 Heavy Good Vehicles (HGV) per hour in each direction; it can cater for general traffic volumes at approximately 8000 vehicles per hour in each direction.
1- The New Orbital Highway and Truck Route - Contract 1:
The contract includes approximately 45km of road network, and represents 25% of the 200km long Orbital highway. The project is located to the South West of Doha and provides a new dual carriageway connecting the New Doha Port and Al Wakra bypass, with the other phases of the New Orbital Highway, and the construction of a road linking Mesaieed road to the East/West Corridor. The cross section of the roads will provide four lanes in each direction with the provision of two future lanes. Construction work on this contract started in Q1 2014.
This contract includes four grade-separated interchanges as follows:
Al Wukair Bypass/ Wukair Road 1: two-level interchange with Wukair Bypass at grade and Wukair Road 1 as flyover
Wukair Bypass / Wukair Road 2: two-level interchange with Wukair Bypass at grade and Wukair Road 2 as flyover
Mesaieed Road / Wukair Bypass: two-level interchange with Mesaieed Road at grade and Wukair Bypass as flyover providing access to the New Doha Port
Mesaieed Road / Mesaieed Road 1: two-level interchange with Mesaieed Road at grade and Mesaieed Road 1 as flyover providing access to the New Doha Port.
Current Progress on Contract 1:
Required equipment and machinery have mobilized for the screening and crushing plants. Other plants and machinery are planned to mobilize on site in due course. Traffic Detours on Mesaieed Road are in progress along with road works. Foundation work for bridges and construction of underpasses started at various locations on the project along Mesaieed Road and Al Wukair Bypass.
2- The New Orbital Highway and Truck Route - Contract 2:
This contract encompasses approximately 48 km new dual carriageway that includes eight grade-separated interchanges consisting of 7 lanes in each direction. It is located to the West and North of Doha City, starting at Salwa Road, passing through Dukhan Road and North Road, and up to the North Relief Road. This new road form part of the New Orbital Highway that connects the South and North of Qatar which will form a free flowing traffic route without the need to travel through Doha City. Construction works on this contract started in Q2 2014.
Current Progress on Contract 2:
The interchange at Junction 4 crossing Dukhan Highway has started with the foundations on both sides of the Highway. Additionally, the mobilization of the batching plant for concrete production and the construction of the bridges precast yard are in progress at junction 3 in Umm Al Afai. From Sailiya Street to Dukhan Central Highway, site clearance has been completed and road works and excavations are in progress.
3- The New Orbital Highway and Truck Route - Contract 3:
This contract encompasses approximately 55Km of dual carriageway and includes five two-level interchanges with 7 lanes in each direction. Located to the South West of Doha, this contract starts at Mesaieed Industrial City interchange and reaching up to Salwa Road, connecting the side roads Mesaieed Road 1, Wukair Road 1 and Wukair Road 2, also connecting the East-West Corridor to the New Orbital Highway. This contract of the project provides a vital connection between contracts 1 and 2. The work on this part of the project also commenced in Q2, 2014
Current Progress on Contract 3:
Currently earthwork is ongoing on the highway and over 1 million cubic meters of excavation has been completed using 75 excavators and 75 trucks. The asphalt on the Highway will commence in the last quarter of 2015 and continue until May 2017. Work on the Junctions will commence in the coming months starting with the Junction at Salwa Road and working towards Mesaieed.
4- The New Orbital Highway and Truck Route - Contract 4:
The project is a 42 km new dual carriageway that includes five grade-separated interchanges. It is located to the West and North of Doha City providing connection between Contract 2 of the New Orbital Highway and Truck Route at Dukhan Highway to North Road and the Al Khor Link Road. The work on this part of the project also commenced in Q2, 2014
Current Progress on Contract 4:
On-site mobilization works are underway in addition to the installation of fences and barriers surrounding the project.