On Wednesday 21 October 2015, the Public Works Authority ‘Ashghal’ in coordination with the MMUP and Members of the Central Municipal Council for Al Khor and Thakhira constituencies organised a community event with representatives from various organisations, businesses, schools, and residents in Al Khor and Al Thakira Municipality. The event aimed at familiarising the community with the most important projects that the Authority is implementing in Municipality area.
Managers of infrastructure and Buildings affairs in Ashghal, in addition to representatives from consulting and contracting companies implementing the projects located in Al Khor Al Thakhira municipality attended the event. A detailed presentation provided a comprehensive overview of the projects being implemented in Al Khor Al Thakhira municipality area was presented including the projects components, stages and features, and what has been achieved so far.
It is noteworthy that this event reflects Ashghal’s commitment to strengthening communication and outreach with the residents living in the vicinity of its projects. The event is part of Ashghal’s integrated community outreach programme, which includes various community initiatives that aim to engage communities about the progress of its projects and answer all their questions and inquires.
The following is a detailed overview of the projects that the Public Works Authority is implementing in the North of Qatar:
First: Expressway Projects
Completed Projects
1. Al Huwaila Link Road - Completed Project
Al HuwailaLink Road leading to Ras Laffan city was opened to traffic on 27thOctober, 2014. The road which was a single carriageway with one lane in each direction without any separation was developed into a dual carriageway that includes four lanes in each direction, separated by a median. In addition, the road has been fitted with street lighting and traffic signals have been installed with cameras to monitor traffic violations on the four new intersections, to improve traffic safety.
The road will mainly serve the traffic flow from and into Ras Laffan Industrial City and will also enhance traffic flow of vehicles heading to Ras Laffan, especially heavy goods vehicles and trucks. It will do so by providing an alternative road to the Ras Laffan Road which serves as a link between Ras Laffan and Al Khor Street, which caused traffic congestion on the expressway from Doha city to Ras Laffan Industrial City.
The road is 16 km long and is connected to the Al Shamal Road at Al Huwaila intersection (intersection 66). It represents an essential part of the future expansion plan for Ras Laffan Industrial City and its vicinities. Road improvement works included, in addition to increasing the number of lanes from one to four in each direction, the establishment of four new intersections which are:
1- The intersection between Al Huwaila Road and College Street
2- The intersection between Al Huwaila Road and Al Shagub Street
3- The intersection between Al Huwaila Road and Khalifa Street
4- The intersection between Al HuwailaRoad and Al Jassasiya Street
As for the infrastructure improvement works, services networks have been established and developed completely, including: storm water drainage network, potable water network, telecommunication network and intelligent transport systems.
Under Construction Projects
1. The New Orbital Highway and Truck Route - Contract 4
The New Orbital Highway and Truck Route "Orbital" with its four contracts forms a fundamental part of the Public Works Authority's Expressway Programme. The Orbital stretches from Mesaieed Area to Al Khor and Ras Laffan Industrial City. It is considered a vital addition to the road network of Qatar as it will form a free flowing traffic route connecting the southern areas, New Hamad International Airport, and New Doha Port with the North without the need to travel through Doha city. This will in turn help to alleviate congestion within Doha, especially from heavy trucks, and better manage heavy vehicle movement.
Theproject will include a total of approximately 200 km of roads, out of which 42 km fall under the fourth contract, and 22 major interchanges including bridges and tunnels, out of which five interchanges fall under the fourth contract of the project. The infrastructure of the Orbital road will include pass ways for camels, weighing stations, side road parking bays, drainage systems, storm water drainage pipelines, Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) and control systems, green landscape and metal beam guardrails along the length of the road.
The Orbital highway includes a unique feature which provides heavy vehicles with their own roadway which is separate from cars and other vehicles roadway. The project was designed to include five separate lanes in each direction and two separate lanes for heavy vehicles, to enhance road safety.
This contract includes the construction of five two-level interchanges as follows:
1- Truck Route / Local Access Road
2- Truck Roue / Gharrafa Road
3- Truck Roue / Al Mazrooaa Road
4- Truck Roue / Al Khor Link Road
5- Truck Roue / Al Shamal Road
2. North Road Enhancements
The project encompasses the construction of service roads along Al Shamal Road from north of Doha City at Al Duhail Interchange to Al Shamal City north of Qatar. The project also includes the construction of two new interchanges in Izghawa and Umm Salal Mohammed Areas, in addition to improvements to three existing interchanges, including Al Kaaban Interchange which connects to the Al Huwailah Link Road and which will be improved so as to facilitate its access and improve the traffic flow. Al Khor Road will also be upgraded with a link road provided between Al Shamal Road and Umm Birkah Road.
In addition, a cycle path will be constructed along the length of Al Shamal Road for families and cycling enthusiasts. The construction of service roads and improvement works, which will be implemented along the length of Al Shamal Road, will enhance the connection between the northern sections of the country with the other areas, provide a developed and safe road, and facilitate access to new developments near the highway.
The total length of the roads within this project is 95.2 km. The work on this project commenced in Q2, 2012 and it is expected to be completed in Q4, 2016.
Second: Roads &Infrastructure Projects in Al Khor and Al Thakira
The objective of Local Roads and Drainage programme is to implement projects that will develop infrastructure for existing areas, in addition to providing comprehensive infrastructure to new areas that lack infrastructure facilities. The projects include the construction of road networks, drainage networks, storm water networks, and other infrastructure utilities.
The Local Roads and Drainage Programme also includes the construction and maintenance of old and incomplete roads in the projects’ areas, improving access to residential and commercial areas, providing safe pedestrian and cyclist pathways, installing traffic signals and signboards, providing street lighting, and landscaping, in addition to the construction and development of drainage networks and systems, and surface water and groundwater drainage networks.
Completed projects
- Extension of Al Khor Treated Sewage Effluent Network
Completed in Q4 of 2013, the project includes the extension of Al Khor Treated Sewage Effluent (TSE) Network from Al Khor Sewage Treatment Works to Al Khor Garden, as well as extension works to connect to the TSE network along Al Shamal Road at its intersection with Al Khor Road, and provide connections to supply Al Khor Southern Entrance Road with treated effluent.
Under construction Projects
1. Roads and Infrastructure of Al Khor Commercial Street
The project commenced in Q1 2014 and is expected to be completed in Q2 2016. The project’s total area is 200,000 square metres, and doesn’t include land plots as works include only the road itself.Works include the construction of a new storm network on the road which will prevent rain water from accumulating and eventually prevent deteriorating the asphalt.
Works also include rehabilitation and widening of the existing road which is 5.5 km, easing the traffic congestion and improving both commercial and residential access along Commercial Street. The project works are ongoing with more than third of the works being finalised.
2. Boundary Wall & Quarry Stabilisation Works
The project commenced in Q1, 2015 and is expected to be completed in Q4, 2015.The project includes installing a boundary wall in the New Al Khor Industrial Area and stabilising existing quarry slope, and protecting site soil from sliding. The boundary wall is 2.6 m high over a length of 9.5 km.
3. Extension of Al Khor sewage network
The project commenced in Q3 2012, and is expected to be completed in Q1, 2016. Once completed, the project will provide a permanent solution for the problem of discharging sewage water from houses, public buildings and commercial institutes to treatment plants in Al Khor, in order to eliminate the use of tanks.Approximately 90% of the project works are completed so far.
Future projects:
- Construction and Upgrade of Road surrounding Al Khor Stadium
Work on this project will commence in Q3 2017 and is expected to be completed in Q2, 2019. The project’s total area is 350,000 square meters of the land area of the south-west of Al Khor City.The project covers the peripheral roads of proposed “Al Bayt” Stadium, and encompasses a dual carriageway with three lanes in each direction.
Third: Temporary and Emergency Roads Projects
Under construction Projects
1. Al Khor Bypass
The project includes the construction of a one-directional two-lane temporary road adjacent to the existing road(in the direction to Al Shamal – Ras Laffan and aligned to the existing road). The existing road will be in the opposite direction (direction from Ras Laffan toward the South). The road is 12.5 km long, and is expected to be completed in Q4, 2015.
2. The Road to Umm Birkah Treatment Plant
The project includes the construction of a dual road to connect the treatment plant in Umm Birkah with Ras Laffan Road, with two lanes in each direction separated by a median. The project will also include installing safety barriers for pedestrians, and is expected to be completed in Q1, 2016.
3. Al Farkiya Beach Road
The project encompasses the construction of a dual road with two lanes in each direction, separated by a central median. The road is 1.6 km long, and includes street lighting, safety barriers, and pedestrian walkways on the sides of the road. It is worth mentioning that the road being constructed passes over a marsh, therefore a soil strengthening works will be implemented to prevent the drops or cracks on the road in the future.The project is expected to be completed in Q1, 2016.
Future Projects:
- Temporary Roads in Al Khor& Al Thakhira
The project is in the tendering phase, and is expected to be completed in Q1, 2016. The project will include building temporary roads based on requests received from Al Khor& Al Thakhira Municipality, in addition to roads that serve the residential buildings that didn’t have access roads before.
The roads requested from Al Khor& Al Thakhira Municipality include: a road to serve Al Khor Centre for Community Development, a road to link the Commercial Street with the street leading to Al Khor petrol station, and a roads to serve Al Khor project to serve 35 villas, in addition to other roads.
Fourth: Roads Maintenance Projects
Works within the Roads Maintenance projects include periodic maintenance for roads, tunnels, and bridges according to set plans, installation and maintenance of street lighting equipment and traffic signs in co-ordination with the concerned authorities, and carrying out emergency maintenance and responding to customer complaints.
The Roads Maintenance projects also include the School Zone Safety programme, which aims to enhance school zone safety, ensure the safety of students and parents upon their arrival or departure from schools, and ease the traffic congestion near schools.The programme includes establishing comprehensive solutions including safe roads in the school zones, paving, providing car parks, building medians and small roundabouts in order to manage the traffic flow in those areas. The works also include placing a sufficient number of signboards and road markings near schools. Moreover, the speed limit in school zones will be set as 30 km/h and speed bumps will be installed in order to reduce speed.
Completed projects:
- School Zone Safety for Compass International School in Al Khor
- School Zone Safety for Al Thakhira Elementary School for Boys
Under construction Projects:
- School Zone Safety for Al Thakhira Primary Independent School for Gils
Future Projects:
- School Zone Safety for Al Khor Primary Independent School for Girls (Elementary)
- School Zone Safety for Al Khor Primary Independent School for Girls (Early Year)
- School Zone Safety for Al Khor Independent Secondary School for Girls
- School Zone Safety for Al Khor Independent Preparatory School for Girls
- School Zone Safety for Al Khor Independent Model School for Boys
Fifth: Drainage Projects
The drainage projects include projects for wastewater treatment, drainage networks for surface and groundwater, laying treated sewerage pipelines for irrigation systems, in addition tothe construction of sewage water treatment plants, rehabilitation of existing pumping stationsand construction of supplementary pipelines and networks.
Completed projects:
1. Construction of Al Khor Area Sewerage for Southern Region – Package 3
The project commenced in Q4 2010, and was completed in Q3, 2013. The project included the construction of sewer lines from properties boundaries (residential or commercial) within project area up to a centralised Pumping Station under the first package of Construction of Al Khor Area Sewerage for Southern Region project. The works included the construction of about 43 km of gravity sewer lines, over 1300 concrete manholes, and approximately 2000 house connection sewers up to properties boundaries.
2. Construction of Al Khor Area Sewerage for Northern Region - Package 2
The project was completed in May 2014, and included the construction of sewer lines from properties boundaries (residential or commercial) within project area up to a centralised Pumping Station under the first package of Construction of Al Khor Area Sewerage for Southern Region project. The works included the construction of about 49 km of gravity sewer lines, over 1400 concrete manholes and approximately 2100 house connection sewers up to properties boundaries.
3. Construction of Al Khor Sewage Treatment Plant – Phase 2
The project was completed in December 2014, and included the extension of the existing Al Khor Sewage Treatment Plant which was constructed in 2009 with a capacity of 4,600 cubic meters per day, and increasing its capacity up to 9,720 cubic meters per day so as to accommodate the increasing treated sewage water works resulting from the expected population increase.
Under construction Projects:
Sewage Treatment Plant, Pumping Station, and Pipes in Al Thakhira
The project started in Q4 2015, and is expected to be completed by Q3 2018. The project aims toaccommodatethe increasedsewageflows from the catchment areas. It comprises of severalkeycomponents:Works for Al Thakira Sewage Treatment Plant which include, the design and construction of a sophisticated sewage treatment plant with a processing capacity of 56,200 cubic meters per day to treat the sewage from Al Khor and Al Thakhira areas.
Works for the Sewage Pumping Stations include, upgrading the existing pumping station in Al Khor to absorb the sewage generated from the residential and service projects planned for the region. It also includes the construction of a sewage pumping station within the current location of Al Thakhira Sewage Treatment Plant, and the construction works for the Sewage Pipes.
The construction works for sewage pipes will include two dual pipelines with an internal diameter of 500 mm and a length of about 10 km to transfer sewage water from Al Khor Pumping Station which will be upgraded. It also includes two dual pipelines with an internal diameter of 800 mm and a length of about 21 km to transfer sewage water from the new pumping station to Al Thakhira sewage treatment plant. This will be in addition to a number of pipelines with varying diameters ranging from 250 to 800 mm and a length of around 36 km to transfer treated sewage water from Al Thakhira sewage treatment plant to various places in Al Khor City to be used in irrigation.
Future Projects:
Construction of Stage II House Connections for Existing Sewerage Station and Construction of Additional House Connections
The project implementation will begin in Q1 of 2016, and it is expected to be completed in Q1 of 2017. The objective of this project is to provide live connections for properties which already have sewer lines, and to provide live house connections for the newly distributed plots which have constructed sewer lines up to boundaries. The project works will include the construction of over 2,550 house connections.
Sixth: building Projects
Ashghal’s Building Affairs is currently building a series of important educational, health, and Awqaf projects in Al Khor and Al Thakhira Municipality, in addition to a number of unique projects such as the Aquatic and Fisheries Research Centre and the Waste Separation Plant. Eight projects are currently under construction, while four projects are in the design and tender phases.
Under construction Projects:
1. Construction of Al Ghuwairiya School for Girls
The project commenced in Q2 of 2015, and it is expected to be completed in Q1 of 2016. The project’s total value is QR 51 million, and 40% of the project works is completed.
2. Construction of 2 Schools in Al Kaaban Area
The project commenced in Q1 of 2015, and it is expected to be completed in Q3 of 2016. The project’s total value is QR 134 million, and 30% of the project works is completed.
3. Construction of 1 Kindergarten in Al Thakhira Area
The kindergarten consists of 12 classrooms, administrative and teachers’ rooms, an internal gathering space with two internal playing areas, music rooms, a library hall, an outdoor playing area, buses and cars parking lots. The project commenced in Q1 of 2015, and it is expected to be completed in Q3 of 2016. The project’s total value is QR 26 million.
Health Projects
Completed projects:
Al Ghuwairiya Health Centre
Al Ghuwairiya Health Center was inaugurated at the beginning of July 2015 and covers an area of 20,000 square meters with a total built area of 2,404 square meters.
The center comprises diverse medical clinics including clinics for men, women and dental clinics, along with radiology sections, pharmacy, laboratory and other specialised clinics.
Future Projects:
1. New Al Khor Hospital – in Design phase
The hospital comprises 500 beds, operation rooms, emergency center, and external clinics. The estimated implementation value is QR 3.6 billion and the implementation is expected to begin mid-2017.
2. New Health Center in Al Khor - in tendering and awarding stage:
The estimated value of the project is QR 3.6 billion and the implementation is expected to begin in Q1 2016.
Public and Awqaf Projects:
1. Construction of the Coastguard Security Headquarters in RasMatbakh
The project commenced in Q4 2014, and is expected to be completed in Q3 2016. The project consists of the demolition and re-construction of the main building and its annexes, with a total value of QR 29 million.
2. Construction of the Aquatic & Fisheries Research Centre in Al Khor (RasMatbakh)
The project commenced in Q1 2014, and is expected to be completed in Q3 2016. The project includes the construction of a comprehensive centre for marine resources and its annexes, including the construction of administrative buildings, laboratories, marine fish and shrimp hatcheries, staff accommodation, treated water outflow facilities, and a maintenance workshop. The completion of the project reached 48%. The projects total value is more than QR 230 million.
3. Construction of the Waste Separation Plant
The project commenced in Q3 2014, and is expected to be completed in Q4 2016. The project consists of the design and construction of waste separation, recycling and utilization plant. It also includes the construction of the plant and annexes.
Future Projects:
- Construction of Three Mosques (in preparation for tendering)
The project is expected to commence in Q1 2016, and its expected total value is QR 17 million.
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