Infrastructure development has been on the fast track over the past few years, with the Public Works Authority (Ashghal) achieving a number of milestones during the journey.
The blockade imposed three years ago has not been able to hamper infrastructure development in the country. This is because Ashghal, guided by the policies and decisions of the wise leadership, has turned a challenge into an opportunity by opting for local options while executing its projects.
Ashghal's long list of accomplishments over the past few years include several highways, interchanges, internal roads, sewage networks, beautification projects, cyclist and pedestrian paths, conversion of roundabouts into signallised intersections and other infrastructure projects.
It has completed a highway network of 790km, and made more than 95% of the highway network ready to serve the 2022 FIFA World Cup stadiums. Qatar has witnessed major road projects, such as Al Khor Road, Al Majd Road, Lusail Road, G-Ring Road and others, take shape since the blockade began.
Eng Youssef al-Emadi, director of Projects Affairs at Ashghal, recently stressed that the authority’s projects were not affected by the blockade and that the pace of work continued in accordance with the plans. Ashghal relied heavily on the local factor by using materials made in Qatar and engaging local companies, achieving a tangible boom in the country’s infrastructure sector, he added.
Eng Bader Darwish, Highway Projects Department manager, confirmed that Ashghal has completed the implementation of about 790km of the highway network, which is considered a “good testimony to the fact that the construction process was not affected by the unjust siege of about three years”.
Ashghal has opened most of the highway network during the blockade period, which caused a “qualitative shift in the movement of goods and people in all parts of the country”, especially strategic areas, ports, Hamad International Airport, the Industrial Area and other vital facilities, he noted.
He added that the prestigious Sabah Al Ahmad Corridor has witnessed several openings since its inception in 2019 with more than 70% of the vital road works having been completed.
Also, 95% of the Khalifa Avenue project and 87% of the Mesaimeer Intersection have been completed while Qatar has also witnessed the opening of several bridges on Sabah Al Ahmad Corridor.
Maintenance and re-paving of 500km of roads were carried by Ashghal in 2019 alone.
Through the Traffic Safety Programme, Ashghal has developed safe-to-acceas roads in the vicinity of schools around the country.
The Local Road Development and Infrastructure Projects by Ashghal have resulted in the opening of several roads, including the ones leading to Al Rayyan Stadium and Al Bayt Stadium. Dukhan Road has also witnessed a lot of development while works on the main tunnel of the 17km sewage network have been completed.
The period witnessed the signing of 10 new contracts for the Infrastructure Development Projects of Citizens' Sub-Divisions with a total value of about QR4bn to serve more than 8,400 land plots.
As for building projects, Ashghal completed the construction of 15 schools and kindergartens, five health centres, 22 projects by the Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs, amenities with tourism places and Trauma and Emergency building at Hamad General Hospital. Besides, works are on with several buildings in the education and health sectors. Ashghal drew international attention by setting up a 3,000-bed medical quarantine hospital within 72 hours.
Ashghal has also won a slew of international recognitions. For instance, the Roads and Infrastructure Development Projects in the Industrial Area (Package 3) and West Muaither (Package 3) received two international safety awards from the British Safety Council.
Ashghal's long list of accomplishments over the past few years include several highways, interchanges, internal roads, sewage networks, beautification projects, cyclist and pedestrian paths, conversion of roundabouts into signallised intersections and other infrastructure projects.
It has completed a highway network of 790km, and made more than 95% of the highway network ready to serve the 2022 FIFA World Cup stadiums. Qatar has witnessed major road projects, such as Al Khor Road, Al Majd Road, Lusail Road, G-Ring Road and others, take shape since the blockade began.
Eng Youssef al-Emadi, director of Projects Affairs at Ashghal, recently stressed that the authority’s projects were not affected by the blockade and that the pace of work continued in accordance with the plans. Ashghal relied heavily on the local factor by using materials made in Qatar and engaging local companies, achieving a tangible boom in the country’s infrastructure sector, he added.
Eng Bader Darwish, Highway Projects Department manager, confirmed that Ashghal has completed the implementation of about 790km of the highway network, which is considered a “good testimony to the fact that the construction process was not affected by the unjust siege of about three years”.
Ashghal has opened most of the highway network during the blockade period, which caused a “qualitative shift in the movement of goods and people in all parts of the country”, especially strategic areas, ports, Hamad International Airport, the Industrial Area and other vital facilities, he noted.
He added that the prestigious Sabah Al Ahmad Corridor has witnessed several openings since its inception in 2019 with more than 70% of the vital road works having been completed.
Also, 95% of the Khalifa Avenue project and 87% of the Mesaimeer Intersection have been completed while Qatar has also witnessed the opening of several bridges on Sabah Al Ahmad Corridor.
Maintenance and re-paving of 500km of roads were carried by Ashghal in 2019 alone.
Through the Traffic Safety Programme, Ashghal has developed safe-to-acceas roads in the vicinity of schools around the country.
The Local Road Development and Infrastructure Projects by Ashghal have resulted in the opening of several roads, including the ones leading to Al Rayyan Stadium and Al Bayt Stadium. Dukhan Road has also witnessed a lot of development while works on the main tunnel of the 17km sewage network have been completed.
The period witnessed the signing of 10 new contracts for the Infrastructure Development Projects of Citizens' Sub-Divisions with a total value of about QR4bn to serve more than 8,400 land plots.
As for building projects, Ashghal completed the construction of 15 schools and kindergartens, five health centres, 22 projects by the Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs, amenities with tourism places and Trauma and Emergency building at Hamad General Hospital. Besides, works are on with several buildings in the education and health sectors. Ashghal drew international attention by setting up a 3,000-bed medical quarantine hospital within 72 hours.
Ashghal has also won a slew of international recognitions. For instance, the Roads and Infrastructure Development Projects in the Industrial Area (Package 3) and West Muaither (Package 3) received two international safety awards from the British Safety Council.
