While public works authorities are reportedly postponing and scaling back several development projects, it appears plans are progressing for a new multibillion-dollar waterway crossing running above and below Doha Bay.
On Wednesday, Ashghal held an “industry engagement day” to brief engineering and construction firms interested in working on the 12km Sharq Crossing project, which will connect the new Hamad International Airport, Katara Cultural Village and the West Bay financial district.
Dubbed “one of the most ambitious engineering projects ever undertaken in the Middle East” when it was officially unveiled in December, the Sharq Crossing will consist of three bridges linked by 8km of subsea tunnels.
Construction is slated to start in 2015 and wrap up by 2021.
Ashghal has declined to discuss the budget of the project, but a report published earlier this year by MEED puts the price tag at around $12 billion. According to the Dubai-based business intelligence group, the first tenders on the project will be awarded sometime this year:
“MEED understands that there will be between four and seven packages covering the three bridges, which vary between 600m and 1.3km, and the tunnel sections.”
The report added:
“A final design for the crossing has been long time coming, with earlier designs dismissed by the former emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, who wanted something special. The latest iteration, which was announced by Ashghal in December 2013, is certainly that – with three iconic bridges linked by subsea tunnels creating the appearance of a flying fish as the bridges leap out of the water.”
The MEED report notes that contracting companies are becoming increasingly concerned about the rising input costs stemming from the country’s aggressive infrastructure build-out and limited capacity to import construction materials.
According to Reuters, this was one factor – along with competition for manpower and bureaucratic delays – that have led authorities to reschedule 15 percent of the country’s development projects that are not essential for hosting the 2022 World Cup.
The Sharq Crossing is forecast to be capable of handling 6,000 vehicles an hour, taking some of the pressure off existing roads.
Thoughts?
If it reduces traffic congestion, then I fully support it.
Traffic congestion will increase once additional 6000+ TATA buses hit the road. Those will be moving workers between construction sites and labour camps not between New Doha International Airport and West Bay Financial District. The Sharq crossing is not going to pay off, except that they’ll finaly have an iconic landmark to hopefully put Doha on the travel magazine covers
Thats a good point, but there will (supposedly) be 2-3 new highways by that point including one to the west of doha which will have designated truck lanes. That should ease traffic a lot but it will also require enforcement on the laws governing truck routes, time when they are allowed to drive etc
additional workers, additional vehicles = more congestion
realisticly the vision of Doha was not effectively thought-out. they should have enforced an Old Doha and a New Doha and not just stick everything in the same place..
the planning for the build up of Doha was very poorly concieved and has the appearence that multiple Government agencies or families would pick and choose what and where to build.
no true management by the government, no vision to the future.
Wide roads, seem to fall in line with driving in the desert, where you can for the most part drive where you would like. When you bring that mentality to a city, we get what we have today.
The wider the road, just forces more delays at the choke points..
a very old city, with poor infrastructure, that boomed and stresses the roadways.
This is very typical of any coastal city that see a boom in people, buildings and growth.
It will only get worse..
Excellent observations
Exactly.
Qatar needs to build a new city. It should accommodate all class & category of people. Somewhere towards West or North of Doha a completely new city. Let all the Business, government, diplomatic offices be moved to this new city and let Doha be converted to a tourist destination with hotels, resorts, amusement parks, greenish parks, zoo etc. Modifying, altering, improving of Doha and its roads gives limited results.
Qatar and its authorities needs to think beyond 2022.
Let’s see…due to start in 2015..due to finish by 2021…The new airport was due to be finished in 2009, pushed to 2012, then 2013, then 2014…. says alot for tight schedule requirement..
I worry about target completion date of 2021 for 2022 World Cup use. Concept design has been going on since 2009 if not earlier. If it took 5 years or more to come up with a concept, 6-7 years to complete construction seems too optimistic.
Qatar shows pictures of infrastructure. Abu Dhabi en Dubai have the infrastructure already.