Major Projects Delay in QATAR

German firm bags contract for Expressway GULF TIMES Sunday 5/2/2006 February, 2006,

Staff Reporter Ashghal, the Public Works Authority, has signed a contract withBilfinger Berger, a prominent German contracting company, and Al-Hamed Development and Construction Company from the UAE. The QR998mn project pertains to improving the 22nd February and the Emir Streets, Ashghal officials said. The project is part of Doha Expressway, which will link the north with other parts of the country. The expressway will be implemented in nine independent phases in accordance with Ashghal’s five-year plan, due to be completed by April 2009, the officials explained. The project will consist of four main junctions including Omar Bin Al Khattab and Al Rayyan interchanges. This will also involve a flyover with four-level routes, officials said. Alternative diversion routes will be in place for easy traffic flow during the construction of the project, the officials stressed. Bilfinger Berger is a renowned international contracting companiy, which takes up massive projects for private and public sectors

Ashghal Awards Major Road Contracts Croatian firm wins a QR627mn deal

GULF TIMES Wednesday 19/7/2006 July, 2006

Staff Reporter A QR627.65mn agreement was formally signed yesterday between a Croatian firm and the Public Works Authority (Ashghal) for the construction of a major inter-change as part of the QR8bn Doha Expressway project. The project connects north of Doha with the south and the east with the west. Officials of the Konstructor Inzenjering d.d. Split Company and Ashghal exchanged documents at a function held at the Ashghal head office in the presence of Croatian Minister for Infrastructure Wajidar Kalmitam and assistant minister Tomek Rafika. Speaking at the function, al-Khayareen said the Croatian firm was awarded the contract after a global tender where there were many bidders. He expressed the hope that with their better and superior expertise in the construction of such major works, the contractors would be able to deliver the ambitious project on schedule. Drago Jozouk, Konstructor Inzenjering company manager (Middle East), Ashghal officials assistant managing director for technical affairs Ahmed Sultan al-Kuwari, acting assistant managing director (accounts and finance) Sheikh Hassan bin Jabor al-Thani, acting director of roads affairs Anas Ismail al-Keilani and acting manager (finance department) Saif al-Kaabi attended the signing ceremony. The proposed interchange is to be built at the north-east corner of the Industrial Area, at the inter-section of the Salwa Road with Al Forousiyah Street. Besides building the four-level interchange, a 1km underpass having a three-lane dual carriage way, a roundabout with three lanes on the level of the existing Salwa Road, an east-west bridge and a bridge linking the road with East Industrial Street are other features of the project, which is to be completed in 26 months (October 2008), starting in September 2006. The Expressway project will be executed in phases through nine independent projects within Ashghal’s five-year plan ending in 2009-10. Ashghal signed in January this year a contract worth QR998.80mn with a conglomerate of Al Hamed Development and Construction of the UAE and Bilfinger Berger AG of Germany for the construction of 22 February Intersection and Emiri Street, as part of the Doha Expressway (Phases 1 and 2). Meanwhile, the Croatian minister told journalists that his country was exploring ways to win more contracts in the region in view of the ongoing massive construction boom in the GCC states, notably in UAE and Qatar. He said the successful completion of the Doha project would help firms from his country earn a good reputation in the region. Zidric and Jozouk told Gulf Times the Doha project was a major challenge to their firm and expressed the hope that they would be able to live up to the expectations in Qatar and complete the project on schedule.

Ashghal Awards its Biggest Contract

GULF TIMES Tuesday 10/7/2007 July, 2007 Staff Reporter THE Public Works Authority (Ashghal) yesterday awarded its biggest contract, North Road (phases 2 & 3), worth QR2.181bn, to Tekfen Constructions Companyof Turkey. The deal for the 94km of the major thoroughfare was signed by Zayed Mansoor al-Khayarin, managing director and board member of Ashghal, and Umit Ozdemir, chairman of the Turkish company. The second phase stretches for 33km, from the Duhail Interchange to Al-Khor with a 5km dual, three-lane extension to Simeisma. The third phase runs from Al-Khor to Ruwais, at the northern tip of the peninsula. The first phase, a 4.5km highway from Immigration Interchange to North Bridge, is nearing completion. The second phase includes construction of a four-lane dual carriagewaywith service roads and nine multi-level interchanges and two weighbridges. It also includes development of infrastructure network and landscaping. Upgrading Simeisma Interchange is also part of the Phase 2 works. The third phase runs for 61km from Al-Khor to Ruwais, and includes construction of four-lane dual carriageway with service roads on both sides. This section will have 11 multi-level interchanges, five camel crossing underpasses, fence to keep away animals and two weighbridges. Infrastructure network and landscaping is also included in this project. The work formally begins on September 1 and runs for 30 months to endon March 1, 2010. “But, we already started the work a couple of months ago and hope to finish it earlier than the scheduled date,” said Ozdemir. Giving details of the project, officials said the entire project would have nine dual carriageway bridges, 11 single carriageway bridges, two tunnels (one dual carriageway and the other single), and construction of stabilising earth retaining walls. Besides 94km of expressway, the project also includes construction of 13.7km of dual, two-lane crossing roads, and about 48km of single carriageway, two-lane roads. The Turkish company also would have to demolish the existing Northern Relief/Simeisma bridge and build connections with the surrounding road network and services. The company is also responsible for maintenance of traffic and detours, relocation, realignment and diversion of existing utilities and telecommunication works. It also has to provide street lighting columns and high masts, landscaping and irrigation, ducting for intelligent transport systems and traffic signages and traffic markings. Drainage works are also included. The assistant managing director for technical affairs at Ashghal, Ahmed Sultan al-Kuwari, said double-lane diversion routes would be provided with “minimum inconvenience” to motorists. The signing ceremony, held at Sharq Village and Spa, was attended by Turkish Ambassador Mithat Rende, Ashghal’s acting manager of roads affairs Anas al-Kilani, Tekfen’s vice chairman Ayhan Sariyoglu, vice president Osman Brigili and country representative Alkas Bekisoglu.