DOHA: The Public Works Authority (Ashghal) has announced the completion of the main works of the first package of the Roads and Infrastructure Development Project in Al Foroush and Al Kharaitiyat, which is being implemented by the Authority as part of its plan to develop the infrastructure to serve citizens’ lands in various regions of the country, and in response to the requirements of urban expansion in the Al Foroush and Al Kharaitiyat area.
The geographical scope of the project covers a part of the area located specifically north of Riffa Street, west of Hazm Al Thameed Street and west of Al Mazrouah Road.
Eng Rashid Al-Ziyara, Head of Doha City Section at Ashghal’s Roads Projects Department, stated that the first package of the project aims to achieve extensive improvements that currently serve about 411 plots in the area, and will serve the population growth in the future by developing internal streets and infrastructure facilities such as sewage networks, rainwater drainage, surface water, and others, with the aim of providing integrated infrastructure services and improving the quality of life of residents.
The works implemented within the first package of the Al Furoush and Al Kharaitiyat project included providing approximately 17.8 km of roads, installing 655 street lighting poles, in addition to providing traffic safety elements. The works also included developing infrastructure networks that include a sewage network with a total length of 19 km, a surface water and rainwater drainage network with a length of 2.7 km, and a drinking water network with a length of 10.4 km.
The remaining works within the scope of the project are currently being completed, which include installing signboards and lighting poles on some streets, and implementing some works related to electrical cables.
Regarding the challenges faced by the implementation team, Eng Rashid Al Zeyara pointed out that the high groundwater level in the project area required studying the most appropriate solutions for draining and discharging water before starting construction work. The rocky nature of the soil in the area also caused delays in completing some excavation work. The work required excavations to a depth of about 22 meters underground, which necessitated raising worker safety measures. In addition, there was a need to coordinate with several state institutions to complete infrastructure development work.
It is worth noting that local materials and manufacturers were relied upon in most of the project’s works, as the local component percentage reached 80% of the total materials used, which include lighting poles and lamps, drainage pipes, precast manholes, electrical cables, signboards and interlocking, in the context of the Public Works Authority’s support for local manufacturers and the rehabilitation initiative launched by the Authority in 2017.