Qatar’s Public Works Authority (Ashghal) has invited firms to prequalify for the consultancy contracts on the major expressway projects planned for Doha and the surrounding area.

Consultants have until the 14 July to submit prequalification documents for the 30 expressway projects planned in Doha over the next five to seven years.

Ashghal will be preparing shortlists of prequalified consultants for the major road projects in three different categories. The authority will prequalify design consultants and supervision consultants for conventional construction packages, and will also prequalify consultants for procurement and supervision of design and build packages.

In February, Ashghal awarded US-based KBR a QR491.4m ($135m) project management contract for the 30 expressway projects planned for the Gulf state up to 2015. The majority of the major highway projects planned will form part of the Doha Expressway.

On 18 April, Ashghal received bids for the main construction contract on package six of the Doha Expressway project.

The work for package six involves upgrading the existing East Industrial Road into six lanes as part of the new Doha Expressway. The 3.5 kilometre-long scheme will upgrade the existing road from the industrial roundabout to the junction of Al-Muntazah street. The work will also involve the construction of two signalised grade separated interchanges and two overpass bridges.

From 2011-12, Ashghal plans to tender 13 road projects that total 344 kilometres in length. This programme will include the 15km-long package 11 of the Doha Expressway and the 107km New Orbital Highway. From 2012-14, Doha plans to build new roads totalling 136km in length (MEED 25:2:11).