Qatar’s Public Works Authority (Ashghal) has awarded the local Boom Construction Company a QR229m ($62.9m) contract to build roads at Block 1300, just south of Qatar University.

The work will involve constructing main and internal roads for a partly developed residential area located about three kilometres north of Doha.

Ashghal awarded a contract to Boom towards the end of last year to take over construction work on the first two packages of the Doha Expressway project. Germany’s Bilfinger & Berger was originally awarded the contract to build the road, but Ashghal replaced the German contractor with Boom and two other local companies after a financial dispute (MEED 31:1:10).

The first two packages cover work on what is known as the 22 February Interchange and includes the construction of six kilometres of highway including a three-lane dual carriageway, underpasses and interchanges.

Ashghal also recently awarded a QR1.6bn ($437m) contract to the local/Turkish joint venture of Yuksel Insaat and Midmac Contracting Company for the construction of package seven of the Doha Expressway.

The work involves the construction of the package seven part of the expressway, together with work on the second phase of the Salwa road.

The Doha Expressway is part of Qatar’s plans to invest $20bn on new roads and related drainage and infrastructure in the next five years. The investment in the country’s transport infrastructure is being carried out to address congestion in Doha.

The plans are also in line with the Qatar National Masterplan that projects the country’s population will grow to about 2.5 million in the coming years, from the current level of 1.3 million.