Qatar plans to spend $20bn on new roads and related drainage and infrastructure in the next five years, according to a senior official at the country’s Public Works Authority (Ashghal).

Construction tenders for the first two projects, known as the Dukhan road and F ring road, will be released in the next two weeks, according to Jamal Shareeda al-Kaabi, acting manager of the design department for roads and drainage at Ashghal.

The tender for a construction contract on Lusail road will follow in a few months, he adds.

Construction work is also due to start on the QR2.2bn ($604m) North road in the next year after design work has been completed, according to Al-Kaabi.

The work on the eight-lane road, which will link up to the Qatar-Bahrain Causeway when it is completed, involves the construction of 22 interchanges.

Ashghal, in conjunction with the Urban Planning Authority, is involved in the preliminary design stages to build a crossing over Doha Bay.

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.