Undeniably, the development of Qatar’s infrastructure over the past couple of decades has been relentless and game-changing. Keeping tabs on the progress – and helping to ensure that projects are sustainable for the long-term, is Ashgal, the Public Works Authority, responsible for the planning, design, procurement, construction, delivery, and asset management of all infrastructure projects and public buildings in Qatar.
Ashgal was established in 2004 and the organisation’s key responsibilities include governing the design, construction, and management of major projects including roads, drainage and buildings such as public buildings, schools and hospitals.
“Adhering to the Qatar National Vision 2030, the Authority contributes to the economic and social development of the State of Qatar, with projects valued at over QR 100 billion to be delivered within the next five to seven years,” states the official website.
“Ashghal has employed a powerful model of strategic outsourcing and partnership with world leading establishments that will bring capacity and capabilities to ensure Qatar rates at par with the most developed nations in the world in the field of infrastructure.
“With high aspirations for the future, Ashghal is committed to undertake a huge infrastructure development that will support the future socio-economic growth of the country. Ashghal’s contribution to the overall sustainable economic and social development of the State is pivotal to the future enhancement of Qatar,” the website continues.
At the heart of Ashgal’s operations is the Infrastructure Affairs area, responsible for governing the design, construction, delivery and maintenance of all expressways, roads and drainage networks that cater to current and future demand across Qatar.
It consists of four departments, namely: the Roads Projects Department, Highway Projects Department, Drainage Networks Projects Department and Roads & Drainage Networks Design Department.
Among the main projects that Ashgal has undertaken in recent years has been The Expressway Programme, an ambitious project aimed at providing vital transportation links across Qatar connecting key cities, towns and villages with high quality national freeways and urban arterial routes.
According to the official website, this expansive project has seen Qatar’s entire network of expressways, highways and local roads under review. Ashghal’s strategy is to develop a road network that will benefit all communities and provides sustainable traffic management solutions that match those available in advanced countries.
The Programme is a nationwide road infrastructure scheme that will improve the way people and places are connected across the city of Doha and wider Qatar. It will deliver over 900 kilometres of new roads and an array of underpasses, flyovers and multi-level interchanges to enable free-flowing traffic and improved journey times.
Ashghal aims to enable greater mobility, and shorten travel times and improve public safety on the roads.
To that end, the organisation has embarked upon a seven year programme, running from 2010 to 2017, set to deliver approximately 240 major interchanges ranging from conventional traffic lights, to four level interchanges with tunnels and flyover.
In all, over 30 major projects were planned, with Kellogg Brown & Root Pty Ltd (KBR) appointed as the Programme Manager, including the construction of new and the upgrading of existing freeways, expressways and arterial roads across Qatar.
The Expressway Programme will provide a national roads network capable of sustaining the future development and expansion of a world-class infrastructure within Qatar.
Construction work began in 2012 on six expressway projects bringing the total number of projects under construction to ten. The Expressway Programme contract value of all projects currently under construction is estimated at QR 16 billion, according to the Ashgal website.
Similarly, extensive work has taken place with the Local Roads and Drainage Programme, a nationwide programme that includes the development of roads, drainage and new infrastructure in all areas of Qatar to raise the standard of living for all the citizens and residents.
The Programme is designed to upgrade and maintain the roads and drainage network across the country’s five regions (Qatar North, Qatar South, Doha North, Doha South and Doha West areas).
The Authority has partnered with leading international consultant Parsons Brinckerhoff as chief project consultant to efficiently oversee the implementation of the programme in a safe and sustainable manner using innovative and cutting edge approaches.
As part of the programme, more than 200 projects will be delivered in the next 5 to 7 years.
The third element that provides vital drainage infrastructure for the southern part of Doha is the Inner Doha Re-sewerage Implementation Strategy or IDRIS. This scheme will include a major deep tunnel sewer network and advanced sewage treatment works.
The Programme will provide a long-term wastewater treatment solution to serve the needs of Doha, Al Wakra and Messaieed. IDRIS is developed to upgrade and expand the sewerage infrastructure, and to accommodate the projected population growth of an additional one million people in Doha’s oldest area –the south catchment.
The major tunnelled interceptor sewer and advanced sewage treatment works scheme will meet the long-term demands of the Doha South Catchment for the next 50 years, eliminate the hydraulically overloaded conditions, and remove over 35 existing pump stations. The Programme Management Consultant is CH2M HILL International.
This project is scheduled to take place over an 8-year period, between 2012 and 2019.
Of course progress has no boundaries within Qatar and work continues on many projects.
In January 2017, Ashgal announced that nearly 40 per cent of the work on the Dukhan Highway East development was already completed (including the construction of bridges, tunnels and asphalt laying work), and that the project is on track for launch by the second quarter of 2019.
The Dukhan Highway East project runs from the Al Wajbah Palace Interchange (west) to the Tilted Interchange (east) and along Al Gharrafa Road from Al Rayyan Street (south) to Thani bin Jassim Street (north).
The project works include the construction of approximately 7.5 kilometres of dual carriageway as well as seven major interchanges, service roads, and auxilliary lanes along sections of the road, they stated.
The officials were speaking after Minister of Municipality and Environment Mohamed bin Abdullah Al Rumaihi paid a site visit to Dukhan Highway East and inspected the work related to Package Seven of Roads and Infrastructure Development (Phase Two) project in Bani Hajer North.
Ashghal said about 58 per cent of the total works in Bani Hajer development project, has been completed, which included laying of asphalt, road paving and other works related to developing local roads.
This project will serve about 557 residential units, and provide a 21 kilometre-long network of local roads, in addition to the installation of lighting systems, signposts, road markings and other services. Integrated sewage and drainage systems are also part of the project.
In December 2016, and speaking during a meeting with acting president of Ashghal, Abdullah bin Hamad al Attiyah and directors of Ashghal’s departments, the Minister of Municipality and Environment, HE Mohammed bin Abdullah al Rumaihi, stressed the importance of the timeous completion of all projects undertaken by Ashghal and monitoring their implementation in terms of quality.
In light of the oil price drop and compressed project timelines, the Minister has called for Ashghal to complete the implementation of megaprojects under its supervision, to support economic, social and development plans in the country.
He also emphasised fulfilling the the aspirations of the Emir His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al Thani and the government.
Stress was also made to involve Qatari citizens working in the Authority and to ensure their participation in the development to achieve the objectives of the Qatar National Vision.
Change and development are issues that Qatari’s have become accustomed to in recent years. With the expert eye of Ashgal, change is aimed at being smooth and for the better long-term.