DOHA: Public Works Authority (Ashghal) yesterday awarded US-based Kellogg Brown & Root Services (KBR) a QR491.4m contract to manage construction of the Doha Expressway, Qatar's mega road project linking the north and south of the country.
"KBR will be carrying out design and construction management and everything related to the execution of the project from initiation to delivery,' said Eng Nasser Al Mawlawi, Ashghal President.
Specifically, KBR's works for the Expressway expected to be completed in 2015 include design tendering, evaluation and review, construction tendering and evaluation, construction, and defects liability of all roads, bridges, underpasses and infrastructure works.
KBR's management and engineering support services is an important part of the state-of-the-art Expressway system spanning 300km of highway network costing a staggering QR40bn.
US Ambassador Joseph LeBaron said business partnerships between Qatar and the US are contributing in a big way to the country's ambitious goal of doubling its exports to $3,000bn by 2015.
"This important project will certainly help reach that goal and at the same time contribute to Qatar as a whole," said Ambassador LeBaron, adding the US is involved in other projects in Qatar such as the New Doha International Airport which is key to Qatar's successful hosting of World Cup 2022.
Also, two more contracts were yesterday awarded to the joint venture between Greece's Consolidated Contractors Co (CCC), and Qatar's Teyseer Contracting Co.
The projects include the QR1.05bn construction contract to build the Dukhan Highway Project section of the Expressway and a QR836.8m contract to construct the F-Ring Road package of the project. Both projects will start next month and are expected to be completed in 2013.
The Dukhan Highway Project consists of approximately 66km of new highway between the existing Thani bin Jassim junction to the west of Doha and the existing Zikreet interchange near the Dukhan Industrial Area.
The Central Contract works comprise approximately 15km of four-lane dual carriage way with shoulders, approximately 40km of surfaced CD roads, 15km of cycle track on the right hand side of the carriage way, three grade separated junctions and associated structures, one weight station, maintenance of traffic and detours, site clearance, pavements, safety installations, kerb, tracks and paved areas, fencing, and traffic signs.
The F-Ring road is a new Primary Route being placed between Al Muntazah street from the west to east of Al Matar street on the east side to access the New Doha International Airport.
Works in this package proposes the construction of a new 8.7km roadway as the mainline of the F-Ring road. F-Ring road will consist of a six to eight lane carriage with ramps and service roads at interchange.
With Qatar's plans to make Doha the region's 'bicycle city', Al Mawlawi said Ashghal will incorporate cycling lanes for its new road infrastructure projects.
"For all our new projects, we will have dedicated cycling lanes, as mandated by higher authorities," he said. State-run Ashghal has pledged to spend $20bn on new roads over the next five years.
© The Peninsula 2011
