Qatar’s Expressway Programme is being executed by the Public Works Ministry (Ashghal). It will connect the south of Doha with the north, and the east with the west.

The project is an important element of the state’s road-building programme to reduce congestion and journey times, and improve traffic flow, while helping achieve the government’s sustainability objectives.

Similar to the country’s rail and other infrastructure projects, the improved roads will support the influx of visitors expected during the 2022 Fifa football World Cup and Qatar’s long-term vision to become a regional and international business hub.

The expressway programme calls for a total of 35 road schemes to be executed between 2010 and 2017. It will deliver a total of 900 kilometres of mainline carriageway and about 200km at grade and multi-level intersections.

Ashghal has appointed the US’ KBR as programme manager. The projects have been divided into separate design, construction and supervision contracts. The design consultancy is being separated into concept design and preliminary detailed and design support.

As of January 2016, an estimated $11.5bn-worth of road schemes under the programme were under construction, with another $4.3bn at the procurement stage. Some $2.3bn-worth of projects have been completed.

The largest packages currently under construction include the New Orbital Highway and Truck Route, and the Doha-Dukhan Highway.

Some of the largest international and local contractors are involved in the road projects under construction, including Saudi Binladin Group (SBG), Qatari Diar Vinci Construction (QDVC), QD-SBG (a joint venture of Qatari Diar and SBG), Hyundai Engineering & Construction (E&C), Daewoo E&C, Joannou & Paraskevaides, Dogus Insaat, Larsen & Toubro, Teyseer Contracting, Al-Jaber Engineering, and Habtoor Leighton Group among others.