Business & Finance Club Magazine - Transportation Sector -  DOHA: The Public Works Authority (Ashghal) yesterday awarded a contract worth QR1.59bn to implement the 7th Package of Doha Expressway which covers the second phase of the Salwa Road project.

Ashghal President Eng Nasser Al Mawlawi signed the contract with M/s Yuksel Insaat AS/Midmac Contracting (JV) at Ashghal Headquarters.

The project consists of 6.9 km free-way that extends from 700 meters of the third package (Industrial Interchange) up to 300 meters before (Al Asiri Interchange).

The main highway consists of a four-lane dual carriage free-way, with provisions to accommodate local traffic through two-lane access roads on both sides of the highway. This will ensure free and safe traffic flow along the highway and in the surrounding areas. This is in addition to service roads and parking slots on both sides of the street to serve the shops and buildings overlooking the highway.

The package also includes construction of four Single Point Urban Interchanges (SPUI) at the intersection of Salwa Road with Al Bustan Interchange (Qatar Décor), Wholesale Market Interchange, Aziziyya Interchange and New Al Ghanem Roundabout.

All these interchanges will have a one-way underpass toward Salwa Road and a signalised ground level bridge to serve traffic across the interchange. The tunnels and interchanges at Wholesale Market and Aziziyya will be integrated in a single tunnel to shorten the distance between the two interchanges, considering the commercial importance of Salwa Road.

The contractor will implement this project in stages, ensuring the provision of alternate traffic with three-lane dual carriageway, with ample entry points to the shops and commercial buildings around the street, so as not to adversely affect the existing business activities.

A round the clock Call Centre will be opened with the start of the project works, in order to receive suggestions and complaints. In addition, the street will be monitored in coordination with the Traffic Department to ensure conformity with the security and safety conditions on the road by the contractor and the Authority.

The project works also include upgrading all infrastructure services while protecting existing services, installation of sewer pipelines along 2,200 meters and installation of traffic signals at Single Point Urban Interchanges.

It also includes new asphalt pavements throughout the project, streetlight works and traffic signage, infrastructure for Intelligent Transport System (ITS), transforming the sewage main lines and construction of new Positive System for Storm water drain.