About five international contracting groups were competing for the 24-month contract. It centres on the construction of about six kilometres of three-lane dual-carriageway, underpasses, crossovers and a major interchange in a heavily built-up area of Doha.

Four other packages are to be tendered on the multi-billion riyal Doha expressway project. Ashghal is preparing to receive bids on 20 December for the industrial interchange package, which involves the construction of a one-kilometre long underpass, a roundabout at ground level, a four-lane overpass and a two-lane bridge link. The other three packages, covering the Al-Wakrah-D ring-road link, the Musaimeer-Industrial zone stretch and the airport roundabout-Khalifa roundabout section, are due to be tendered in 2006. All the packages have a contract duration of 24 months.

The design consultant on the Doha expressway is the US' Parsons International.