Govt planning bridge across Doha bay
Published: Monday, 6 August, 2007, 02:03 AM Doha Time

Staff Reporter
THE Urban Planning and Development Authority (UPDA) is understood to be studying plans for the construction of a bypass that could run across Doha bay, connecting The Pearl-Qatar and Lusail City.
The plan could see the development of the Doha Bay Bypass Corridor, which would connect the central business district in Doha to the West Bay and other areas.
Bids for the feasibility study of the Doha Bay Bypass Corridor Project are expected to be submitted by September 10, the Construction Week magazine quoted an official at the UPDA, as saying.
The UPDA has invited tenders from various consultants specifying three options for the project: a landside tunnel that would run from under the central business district (CBD) in Doha to the West Bay area; a long offshore bay bridge or tunnel, preferably with a connection to The Pearl-Qatar, which would directly link New Doha International Airport (NDIA) through either a rail or road link; or a rail-based public transport system that would connect south Doha and NDIA with West Bay, The Lagoon, The Pearl-Qatar and Lusail across Doha’s CBD area.
This could be a metro or light rail transport system with underground sections in central Doha.
“The plan will most likely be a long offshore bay bridge that would avoid the city centre area and run across the bay straight up to The Pearl-Qatar and the Lusail district,” Construction Week quoted a source close to the project as saying.
“It is still uncertain whether it will be a rail or road link. Tenders for the traffic consultancy package are due to be submitted by the first week of September. This is probably going to be the biggest job in Qatar at the moment, after the proposed Qatar-Bahrain causeway.”
The UPDA has also said that the current master plan for Doha will be made available to the consultant that will eventually be carrying out the feasibility study for the Doha Bay Bypass Corridor.
The terms of the contract will require the chosen consultant to study the current traffic master plan and provide suggestions; analyse and evaluate current conditions; identify, forecast and analyse future conditions, and develop and evaluate alternative solutions.
The study will also focus on various tunnel portal and bridge landing locations along with other corridor options.
Lusail City, located about 15km north of Doha, will eventually provide accommodation for up to 200,000 people. The Pearl-Qatar, the multi-billion dollar offshore island, is the largest real estate development in Qatar.

OMG !!!!!!!!! this is major i wish it is light rail but at the same time i wish its a road link either way its gonna help people alot !!! the cornesh will be much calmer and decent it will help people going to the airport or to the pearl aswell !!! THANKS FOR POSTING WAKRAWI !!!!!

OMG!!! Cooll....... it really impresses... this is something that Doha strongly & urgently needs..........hope everything gets completed @ the soonest...................

What a waste of money!! Sometimes I wonder how people think over here.

halawala... r u serious?? U think this is a waste of money!

Honestly, I was just driving through one end to the other of the cornish. It didnt take long since traffice was light due to most people in summer vacations and me being late. I was remebering how terrible things are going to be again in Sep. The trafffic on the cornish is unbearable and just think with all these new towers coming up most of which are 50+ what a nightmare traffic will be.

Ive always had this idea in the back of my head and so did every qatari of building a sort of San Fran Bay bridge.. the Golden Gate or whatever its called accross the cornish connecting ppl who live in south doha, wakrah, and the airport with the CBD and other newer northern parts of doha. It will do amazing work towards cutting down traffic.

However i dont agree with the tram... i dont see qatari giving up their land crusiers anytime soon to jump on a train to work.!!

halawala... r u serious?? U think this is a waste of money!

Honestly, I was just driving through one end to the other of the cornish. It didnt take long since traffice was light due to most people in summer vacations and me being late. I was remebering how terrible things are going to be again in Sep. The trafffic on the cornish is unbearable and just think with all these new towers coming up most of which are 50+ what a nightmare traffic will be.

Ive always had this idea in the back of my head and so did every qatari of building a sort of San Fran Bay bridge.. the Golden Gate or whatever its called accross the cornish connecting ppl who live in south doha, wakrah, and the airport with the CBD and other newer northern parts of doha. It will do amazing work towards cutting down traffic.

However i dont agree with the tram... i dont see qatari giving up their land crusiers anytime soon to jump on a train to work.!!

Concerning the last sentence, you mighte be right, but since expatriates form 75% of Qatar's population, it would witness an adequate demand..And travelling by trains, it's fun you know....

not reallt i also dont like the tram idea but i do like the Light Rail idea :D

halawala... r u serious?? U think this is a waste of money!

Honestly, I was just driving through one end to the other of the cornish. It didnt take long since traffice was light due to most people in summer vacations and me being late. I was remebering how terrible things are going to be again in Sep. The trafffic on the cornish is unbearable and just think with all these new towers coming up most of which are 50+ what a nightmare traffic will be.

Ive always had this idea in the back of my head and so did every qatari of building a sort of San Fran Bay bridge.. the Golden Gate or whatever its called accross the cornish connecting ppl who live in south doha, wakrah, and the airport with the CBD and other newer northern parts of doha. It will do amazing work towards cutting down traffic.

However i dont agree with the tram... i dont see qatari giving up their land crusiers anytime soon to jump on a train to work.!!

Traffic is unbearable on the Corniche for a simple reason - its full of roundabouts, with the exception of the Grand Hamad traffic lights. Building a bridge across the bay is nothing more than a waste of money, building traffic lights in the place of roundabouts or even underpasses is much more feasable and makes a lot more sense.

but a bridge connecting the pearl and lusail with the new airport is a must :D

Traffic is unbearable on the Corniche for a simple reason - its full of roundabouts, with the exception of the Grand Hamad traffic lights. Building a bridge across the bay is nothing more than a waste of money, building traffic lights in the place of roundabouts or even underpasses is much more feasable and makes a lot more sense.

Amrja I will disagree with you. The roundabout do contribute to traffic. But taking all 7 or 8 rountabouts from the cornish and replacing them with traffic lights will take at least a good 4-5 years. Not all roundabout will be replaced at the same time, but one at a time. For the next 4-5 years the traffic conditions will get worest due to closures and the build-up of the CBD population. By 5 years the traffic lights will only end up as a temprary solution.

Under and overpasses is probably the most ideal for the cornish road. However given the close proximaty to the water and the fact that the cornish road is built on reclaimed land, building underpasses can proof to be extremely expansive and time consuming.. if they can even do that!

By building a bridge or underwater tunnel (given the shallow water it wont be as expansive as many expect) from south to north doha, you are creating a newer second expressway from one point to another dramtically reducing traffic.

Traffic ligths will solve todays problem, assuming they get installed tomorow. A bridge from the airport area to CBD is more a strategic long term plan.

Im for it!

Amrja I will disagree with you. The roundabout do contribute to traffic. But taking all 7 or 8 rountabouts from the cornish and replacing them with traffic lights will take at least a good 4-5 years. Not all roundabout will be replaced at the same time, but one at a time. For the next 4-5 years the traffic conditions will get worest due to closures and the build-up of the CBD population. By 5 years the traffic lights will only end up as a temprary solution.

Under and overpasses is probably the most ideal for the cornish road. However given the close proximaty to the water and the fact that the cornish road is built on reclaimed land, building underpasses can proof to be extremely expansive and time consuming.. if they can even do that!

By building a bridge or underwater tunnel (given the shallow water it wont be as expansive as many expect) from south to north doha, you are creating a newer second expressway from one point to another dramtically reducing traffic.

Traffic ligths will solve todays problem, assuming they get installed tomorow. A bridge from the airport area to CBD is more a strategic long term plan.

Im for it!

I would think that the the bridge/tunnel concept would ruin the coastline of Doha. Not only would a bridge ruin all the beach-coastal hotels lining the coast of Doha like the Intercontinental and future St. Regis.

There should instead be more highways (I mean nonstop routes) leading the CBD from other areas like Lusail and Pearl. The bridge would cost billions of Dollars and ruin the beaeutiful view we have of the Arabian Gulf.

^^I agree

Why not have a tunnel equipped with trains and roads running from the new airport til Lusail, but I hate the idea of a bridge...like Halawala pointed out, I think it would definitely ruin the coastline! And even a tunnel is not necessary in my opinion. Driving on a highway bypassing Doha through the land and connecting directly the airport and Lusail (ie a real highway, large, with no traffic lights or whatsoever) wouldn't take more than 20 min. And this highway could have numerous exits, whereas the bridge/tunnel only leads you from point A to point B...

why dont we just build double decker roads to serve the ones going through and not to disturb the ones going to diffrent places than from point A to B. ps:double decker roads are already happening in dubai at doha street

Amrja I will disagree with you. The roundabout do contribute to traffic. But taking all 7 or 8 rountabouts from the cornish and replacing them with traffic lights will take at least a good 4-5 years. Not all roundabout will be replaced at the same time, but one at a time. For the next 4-5 years the traffic conditions will get worest due to closures and the build-up of the CBD population. By 5 years the traffic lights will only end up as a temprary solution.

Under and overpasses is probably the most ideal for the cornish road. However given the close proximaty to the water and the fact that the cornish road is built on reclaimed land, building underpasses can proof to be extremely expansive and time consuming.. if they can even do that!

By building a bridge or underwater tunnel (given the shallow water it wont be as expansive as many expect) from south to north doha, you are creating a newer second expressway from one point to another dramtically reducing traffic.

Traffic ligths will solve todays problem, assuming they get installed tomorow. A bridge from the airport area to CBD is more a strategic long term plan.

Im for it!

You still have to consider several things - first of all, having a tunnel come out in West Bay would require a whole new system of underpasses and bridges to accommodate the increased traffic - this would have the same result as upgrading the Corniche road. Secondly, the majority of traffic doesn't just go from point A to B - the biggest traffic problems are at the Qatar National Theatre roundabout in the middle of the Corniche, while the traffic near West Bay and the Sheraton is pretty smooth. While I know this will change in the future, building a tunnel will not solve the problem of traffic on the actual Corniche.

As for traffic lights taking 5 years, that is only the case in Qatar because work is so inefficient. Taking out a roundabout and converting an intersection to traffic lights does not need any major amount of work - it should be pretty straight forward, and the closure time should be minimal. But, unfortunately this doesn't seem to work in Qatar. To be fair, a big part of the problem is that frequently the underlying electricity and water infrastructure needs to be upgraded, but I doubt that would be the case on the Corniche which is newer than the Airport area for example, where it was much needed.

thanks massilia :D

By the way this was one the bidders: ARTE CHARPENTIER
I have to say to I neither like the idea of a Corniche extension nor of a bridge :D
Keep it simple!!

http://img223.imageshack.us/img223/7250/newbitmapimagebp5.jpg

http://img228.imageshack.us/img228/7686/newbitmapimage2zg6.jpg

I seriously hope that we get to have something like this, but this would mean that they'd have to control buildings' designs

the idea of having a road that links the new airport with westbay/ the pearl is there.......and i am assuming they are asking for it......coz in another master plan.....there was suppose to be a tunnel instead of the same direction..........right.....

yes thats right i remmember the tunnel thing

there are much more important things to be done... the bridge is owsme.. but i go wid halawala again ... waste of money....

btw why is there 18 towers holding the bridge the bridge towers are about the same size as the real towers !!!!!

You guys guess what, this bridge has been changed to a tunnel across West Bay, and the start/end of the Tunnel would be the newly built RoundAbout on the new Ras Abu Abood Road. It will have exits at the empty plot of land by the Sheraton Hotel, as well as near the Pearl.

Not visible =( well it might be a good idea =D but i dunno how the road coming from sheaton would connect to it...... i am also thinking if people will acctually use this or it will become a white elephant....

This render is old.

It is going to be an underpass.

much more expensive.

^^ more money stolen =D hehe...

but i am still hoping for the corniche extension...

Qatar says to go ahead with $1bn subsea tunnel

by Gulf Times (Source)

Qatar will go ahead with plans for a 12km subsea tunnel that will link the capital’s new airport with the financial centre at a cost of more than $1bn, an official has said.

“The road is under [the] urban planning department for the concept design and then we will be taking that project for the detailed design and construction phase,” Jamal al-Kaabi, acting manager of the design department at Qatar’s Public Works Authority (Ashghal) said at an event in Doha.

Danish engineering consultants COWI have submitted a feasibility study and a preliminary concept design, which is now awaiting approval from the Qatari government’s urban planning department, al-Kaabi said.

Asked at a Qatar conference organised by London-based Middle East Economic Digest whether the project would cost more than $1bn to implement, al-Kaabi said: “Yes, definitely. A lot more.”

The tunnel, which will run under Doha Bay in the capital, is one of Qatar’s most ambitious road projects to date.

The country, which holds the world’s third-largest natural gas reserves after Russia and Iran, is budgeting $20bn for road projects over the next five years.

The Gulf state is the largest exporter of liquefied natural gas, or LNG, in the world by far and is pouring its billion-dollar hydrocarbon profits into a string of massive infrastructure projects.
Qatar’s central bank governor said last month he expected the economy to grow 16% this year-outperforming most other economies-on the back of LNG exports.

The planned tunnel will link Doha’s new $11bn airport, due for completion in 2011, with Lusail and West Bay, Doha’s fast growing financial district, reducing commuting time and help ease traffic congestion.

Initial designs for the tunnel are for three traffic lanes in each direction, people familiar with project have said.

“It’s a project we have produced a feasibility study for and we’ve presented this. We’ve heard the reaction has been positive.

“We don’t know anything more than this at this stage,” Len Hurst, COWI’s managing director in Qatar told Zawya Dow Jones in a phone interview.

No decision has been made as to who will take overall charge of the project, according to officials.

Qatar’s Ministry of Municipality of Urban Planning is the client Ashghal could get involved at a later stage to oversee the detailed design and construction, a ministry official said.
“It’s not clear how the government will choose to implement this project. I’m not sure it will be treated as a typical project,” the official said.

Details of the project first emerged in early 2008 when COWI won the contract to carry out a feasibility study.
Other options that were considered for the link included a bridge across Doha Bay and a tunnel running under the Corniche.


Well, 3 lanes should be 4 at least since A LOT of people are going to use it coming from/to West Bay! Hmmm... I think the probability that Ill win the lottery is much higher than seeing this tunnel complete any time soon. Lets hope for the best!

^^ i think around 10 billion would be the final price tag.

This is one big white elephant!!!
they could transform C & D ring roads into highways for less than the half cost, and it would serve the whole City . .

This is one big white elephant!!!
they could transform C & D ring roads into highways for less than the half cost, and it would serve the whole City . .

I think this bridge is really important--although it shouldn't go as far the Intercontinental. I think that it should start/end by the Four Seasons for access routes to the E,F,G Ring Roads. Imagine going to work in 10 minutes from the airport area instead of getting stuck in traffic for half an hour!

well expanding roads is just a temporary solution for traffic, but building new roads is a good solutions for many years..

I think this bridge is really important--although it shouldn't go as far the Intercontinental. I think that it should start/end by the Four Seasons for access routes to the E,F,G Ring Roads. Imagine going to work in 10 minutes from the airport area instead of getting stuck in traffic for half an hour!

yea! but wont a highway on the land do just as same PLUS serving many other areas on the way . .will also cost much less, i'm sure two highways would cost less than a tunnel.
anyways, i don't think i know much about these things and i'm sure they have studied it before proposing the idea. still, i think a highway is more logical :ohno:

Actually, im having second thoughts . .i live in dafna and inshalla will work in ras bo aboud . . if this thing got built it would lead staight to my work lol . i say GO AHEAD WITH IT THEN:colgate:

i'm not being selfish, but guys lets face it, we do need it haha :D

With Lusail and the Pearl built up, most towers in West Bay completed, and the new development on the old airport site (and the Doha Expressway) finished, it will definitely be needed. I think the south of Doha will also get quite developed in the long-term, so its good forward planning as well. The question is how long it well take to get built, seeing how long the D-Ring Road has taken so far!

With Lusail and the Pearl built up, most towers in West Bay completed, and the new development on the old airport site (and the Doha Expressway) finished, it will definitely be needed. I think the south of Doha will also get quite developed in the long-term, so its good forward planning as well. The question is how long it well take to get built, seeing how long the D-Ring Road has taken so far!

If you take a look at whose building the D ring road and compare it with Bechtel's Ras Abu Abood Highway there is no difference to the level of quality between the two projects. Bechtel is amongst the top 10 private companies and is known for its quality and engineering capabilities. I hope that they will award the rest of D ring road and E, F, G.... as one package to good contractors.

Thank god its a tunnel! I dont like tunnels as much as overground roads but a bridge would have ruined the beautiful Doha Corniche. Its not worth it, the tunnel is a much better option. Otherwise your waterfront wouldve turned into a lake. Thie distances arent that huge and any bridge being constructed wouldve been clearly visible from the city. It wouldve been ugly! Qataris proved theyre smart. Sure its more expensive but its a wiser decision.

Cool project.. I like it.. Very forward thinking/planning...

I just wonder which will be built before, this or the Qatar-Bahrain bridge... hahaha :lol:

:)

Cool project.. I like it.. Very forward thinking/planning...

I just wonder which will be built before, this or the Qatar-Bahrain bridge... hahaha :lol:

:)

I think they are both dream projects lool

bay crossing enterannce from the airport side:

http://img24.imageshack.us/img24/8361/img0723sk.jpg (http://img24.imageshack.us/i/img0723sk.jpg/)

http://img13.imageshack.us/img13/5779/img0718az.jpg (http://img13.imageshack.us/i/img0718az.jpg/)


from westbay side:


http://img31.imageshack.us/img31/2929/img0719m.jpg (http://img31.imageshack.us/i/img0719m.jpg/)

the newspapers confirms that the bay crossing will have exits in the plot between the four seasons ans the sheraton . .and the other exit somewhere near the intercon hotel!

I love those pictures!

The entrace near the NDIA would be in the place of the current Naval Base there. But, the exit near Four Seasons should have multiple bridges, not a traffic light! Dear God, it will be worst than when it started.

people can dream!

I love those pictures!

The entrace near the NDIA would be in the place of the current Naval Base there. But, the exit near Four Seasons should have multiple bridges, not a traffic light! Dear God, it will be worst than when it started.

EXACTLY !!I don't know what these people were thinking !could be a bridge going from the corniche road to the road that leads to four-seasons hotel with another bridge going from corniche road to city center and under all of that a signal would seem good then...

Actually, If you look at this photo, the tunnel will pass under the traffic lights. the traffic lights here are just the first exist to serve this area. I'm gussing it ends with Majles Altaawon St

http://img101.imageshack.us/img101/2929/img0719m.jpg (http://img101.imageshack.us/my.php?image=img0719m.jpg)

^^ nice catch !! but does this mean the newly-built street is going to be ruined again =S West bay roads are just staring to make sense, i think with this project and the West bay main station for Qatar railways the area will witness choking traffic problems...

Actually, If you look at this photo, the tunnel will pass under the traffic lights. the traffic lights here are just the first exist to serve this area. I'm gussing it ends with Majles Altaawon St

http://img101.imageshack.us/img101/2929/img0719m.jpg (http://img101.imageshack.us/my.php?image=img0719m.jpg)

Nice catch Salman, but believe me I dont think they are that smart to figure out this.

Qatar considers bridge rather than Doha Bay tunnel

Qatar: Thursday, June 17 - 2010 at 11:00

Qatar may build a bridge across Doha Bay instead of its planned $1bn subsea tunnel, Meed has reported. The Doha Bay Crossing was initially planned as a subsea tunnel that would run under the bay of Doha and link the New Doha International Airport with Lusail. However, authorities are considering other options, one of which is a bridge or causeway, Osama Freija, senior traffic engineer at the Municipality and Urban Planning Ministry, told the magazine at MEED's Qatar Transport 2010 Conference.

:bleep::evil::sly::scouserd::gaah::mad::mad2::wallbash::crazy2::uh::rant:

There, i think that explains my reaction to this... first a bridge then a tunnel and again back to bridge... just build something !!

Nice catch Salman, but believe me I dont think they are that smart to figure out this.

they are not, it's all Foreign :P

Qatar considers bridge rather than Doha Bay tunnel

Qatar: Thursday, June 17 - 2010 at 11:00

Qatar may build a bridge across Doha Bay instead of its planned $1bn subsea tunnel, Meed has reported. The Doha Bay Crossing was initially planned as a subsea tunnel that would run under the bay of Doha and link the New Doha International Airport with Lusail. However, authorities are considering other options, one of which is a bridge or causeway, Osama Freija, senior traffic engineer at the Municipality and Urban Planning Ministry, told the magazine at MEED's Qatar Transport 2010 Conference.

Really hate the bridge idea :( I saw this before but thought its old since the orignal plans for the Doha masterplan had a bridge.

Apparently the final 'masterplan' has been selected, it is Santiago Calatrava's design, which means... it is among the ones that we don't have renders of :bash: wait and see...

^^ The designs on the previous posts looks like Santiago's designs. Perhaps it is??

Apparently the final 'masterplan' has been selected, it is Santiago Calatrava's design, which means... it is among the ones that we don't have renders of :bash: wait and see...

I thought they have already selected one, LoL.. this is gonna take like forever :bash: isn't it the one that connects the pearl to al-saflyah island with a tunnel < i'm not sure about the name but it's the island just next the pearl

I had a meeting about that... it is Calatrava who has designed the crossing. It will consist of 2 tunnels and 3 bridges (originally it was all tunnels).

Apparently Arup had won the design contest for this project- they even got paid for it and everything. Calatrava then came in and met with some high-up officials, and he combined the top 3 designs and there we now have DBC.

They are evaluating the PMC's at this stage- they are down to 5 shortlisted candidates.

Just found one of the failed designs by Atkins.

http://www.uploadimage.co.uk/images/166655doah.JPG

http://www.uploadimage.co.uk/images/475869doha.JPG

See more at the bottom of this pdf >> http://www.atkins.dk/publikationer/Presentations/Francesco_Presta.pdf

http://imageshack.us/a/img191/8863/bc7.png

http://imageshack.us/a/img191/161/bc6.png

http://imageshack.us/a/img14/4963/bc5c.png

http://imageshack.us/a/img705/9488/bc4b.png

http://imageshack.us/a/img7/7743/bc3l.png

http://imageshack.us/a/img560/545/bc2u.png

http://imageshack.us/a/img838/1558/bc1i.png

from Santiago Calatrava (http://www.calatrava.com/#/Selected%20works/Architecture/Doha?mode=english)

sorry for the large size, I don't feel like uploading again....

http://www.calatrava.com/#/Biography/All?mode=english

watch the Video :eek2::eek2::eek2: make sure you are watching the extended version. the people mover is insanely beautiful.....

:nuts: i must try that people mover one day . . it looks like a roller coaster

VeD8Gd8vC2k

I liked the lights effect at night

Wow. Nice. Thank you Salman

VeD8Gd8vC2k

I liked the lights effect at night

that's the old design the new one is in Salman's link

Can this please happen.... :ohno:

that's the old design the new one is in Salman's link

that right but I think they will keep the same idea for the lighting effect I hope so

Love the project . We want this in doha ASAP

Iconic...people would come to qatar just to experience this! Wow!

Can this please happen.... :ohno:

hah
in ur dreams :lol: :bash:

I dont want to sound like the pessimest but the project is very science fiction. We dont need all this in Doha. Just a three lane, pillar-mounted causeway will do. We do not want this project to finish in 15 years costing $10 billion dollars. We just want less traffic in less time. Honestly I do not get why they will build a tunnel where they know that they are going to face a nightmare in construction!

Tunnels costs more cause they will use more equipment, concrete, steel, and de-watering equipement. Chances for failure during construction is great.

Suspention briges look awesome, costs a lot, and provide the nessessary height for ships to go through. We dont need this in Doha, as we dont have any freight ships in that area.

Simple Pillar-mounted Bridges+causeway costs less, take less time, but look less beautiful.

I will go for option three. I want less traffic quickly.

^^ not even, it seems to be 2 lanes on several sections..., I don't understand, a project of this magnitude deserves 3-4 lanes... :S

Halawala, is this a Post HIA fiasco view?

We do not want this project to finish in 15 years costing $10 billion dollars.

I don't agree with you bro even Bahrain causeway with the fast train not cost $5 billion. We need Iconic projects in Qatar not only provide radical solutions even create tourist traffic out of nowhere. For example who visiting San Francisco he must visiting it is Golden Gate Bridge. When King Fahad causeway built all feasibility studies confirmed the economic infeasibility of it but the opposite happened the causeway regained it is cost 100x times and became a major source of income. Eiffel Tower built in 1889 with high cost in that time and now receives 250 million tourists every year. I expect this project to be profitable and one of the landmarks that support the country's tourism.

I don't agree with you bro even Bahrain causeway with the fast train not cost $5 billion. We need Iconic projects in Qatar not only provide radical solutions even create tourist traffic out of nowhere. For example who visiting San Francisco he must visiting it is Golden Gate Bridge. When King Fahad causeway built all feasibility studies confirmed the economic infeasibility of it but the opposite happened the causeway regained it is cost 100x times and became a major source of income. Eiffel Tower built in 1889 with high cost in that time and now receives 250 million tourists every year. I expect this project to be profitable and one of the landmarks that support the country's tourism.


I don't think we need white elephants in Qatar, all of the examples you gave were built for a purpose, not to be an icon for a country. They may WANT this project but we don't NEED it. I see many cheaper/radical alternatives for this project.

we need quick solution for the traffic, I agree on this, but that doesn't stop us from building a landmark in here.

I am sure they will deliver the project on time and within the budget... just like the airport :lol:

its three lanes from ras bo aboud road, and I guess two will head toward the sheraton and towers area and two to the other end.

I don't think we need white elephants in Qatar

bro this project connecting 3 cities include Hamad Airport how will become white elephants !!

all of the examples you gave were built for a purpose, not to be an icon for a country.

That project has purpose as I mention above and what wrong to be Iconic for the country !! since it is in front of our capital and should be innovative and attractive.

They may WANT this project but we don't NEED it.

lol bro with this view I think if you have the decision you will never build Katara or many other projects because as you said we don't need it lol.

I see many cheaper/radical alternatives for this project.

we have many cheap alternatives in the outskirts of the capital include Doha Express and Al Madary road and nothing wrong to have Iconic project in the front of Doha.

bro this project connecting 3 cities include Hamad Airport how will become white elephants !!

3 cities ? its Doha bro, everything is within 10 km radius max. (HIA included)

That project has purpose as I mention above and what wrong to be Iconic for the country !! since it is in front of our capital and should be innovative and attractive.

Nothing is wrong with it, it would look nice actually. But do we need it ? is it the only option we have? don't forget the purpose here is to reduce traffic. For $10 billion dollars and 15 years? How much do you think it will cost to re-do the corniche ? no roundabouts and four lanes. and how much time would that take.

lol bro with this view I think if you have the decision you will never build Katara or many other projects because as you said we don't need it lol.

I never said that and I wish you would only discuss what I actually said instead of putting words in my mouth. Katara is something we need and is part of the tourism which makes it an icon WITH a purpose.

we have many cheap alternatives in the outskirts of the capital include Doha Express and Al Madary road and nothing wrong to have Iconic project in the front of Doha.

Yes these roads and highways will really reduce traffic + the rail when its completed. I respect your opinion and thoughts, however I still don't see the need for this project.

^^ The main purpose of the project is to get certain people from the airport directly to the new areas without passing through the shit*y parts of the city, maybe!?

Anyway, I support this project as it will help reducing the traffic. The northern area needs such projects as the population is growing dramatically, lusail and the pearl will have approximately 250,500 residents that Lusail expressway won't be enough.

^^ The main purpose of the project is to get certain people from the airport directly to the new areas without passing through the shit*y parts of the city, maybe!?

How about re-doing the corniche, isn't that an option? or are we blind folded with money to the point that we don't know where to spend it.

How about re-doing the corniche, isn't that an option? or are we blind folded with money to the point that we don't know where to spend it.

I'm not denying that this is a show-off project mainly, but I'm not against it as long as it's a great addition and improvement to our infrastructure. You're talking like this is an empty tunnel, it's useful.

The alternatives are not clear so far, I don't even think there are any plans for the cornich ! :ohno:

How about re-doing the corniche, isn't that an option? or are we blind folded with money to the point that we don't know where to spend it.

nope it actually isn't unfortunately. corniche will always be a slow road. I think they might change few roundabouts to signals soon but that is all.

if you want to talk about options however, I think we have plenty, Majles al tawoon road is one, the Ring roads are another, and the cost of doing them all might still be cheaper and it will connect all the areas around Doha, not to mention reduce the traffic in general.

I'm with this project going forward but the problem here is similar to few other projects we have, they keep adding features and different designs until the cost become too high and the duration is too long and then we go back to the first plan, after wasting few years.

3 cities ? its Doha bro, everything is within 10 km radius max. (HIA included)


Yes it will connect who's driving from Hamad Airport or Al-Wakrah to Lusail city & the Pearl Highway or versa.


Nothing is wrong with it, it would look nice actually. But do we need it ? is it the only option we have? don't forget the purpose here is to reduce traffic. For $10 billion dollars and 15 years

$10 billion dollars & 15 years !! This is not true at all bro.


How much do you think it will cost to re-do the corniche ? no roundabouts and four lanes. and how much time would that take.


There is a plan to develop the Corniche, but some vital projects on the Corniche hinder such a plan, but this does not preclude work on alternatives and other areas of Doha.

Delays and diversions expected as first phase of Corniche master plan begins

Read more: http://dohanews.co/post/47528900966/delays-and-diversions-expected-as-first-phase-of#ixzz2PxsgNTw2


http://media.tumblr.com/9f999eab1f1a1a86758d674d383f1577/tumblr_inline_mkz9vsiEYD1qz4rgp.jpg

^^ I was just about to post that :P

The article mentions that every single round about on the corniche will be converted into an intersection, with the exception of Sheraton RA (why ??)

^^ I was just about to post that :P

The article mentions that every single round about on the corniche will be converted into an intersection, with the exception of Sheraton RA (why ??)

I came back here to ask the same question ?! why not Sheraton RA ? isn't The Sheraton hotel going in a refurbishment phase for 2 years. Why not do the intersection there at the same time.

does anyone of you notice any traffic near Sheraton R\A ? I don't think we need signals there.

I think everyone has a problem with the traffic police and the round abouts traffic in general, this was a disaster at salwa road which is SO SMOOTH at the moment, my life is so much easier when the tunnels finally opened with the adequate exits required.

I think the corniche redevelopment, lusail expressway and the doha bay crossing combination of projects will reduce the hassle involved in the north-south commuting at least on the coastal side.

(Doha orbital highway will serve the outskirts side, while 22 february is "supposedly" serving the inner city parts)

Delays and diversions expected as first phase of Corniche master plan begins

Read more: http://dohanews.co/post/47528900966/delays-and-diversions-expected-as-first-phase-of#ixzz2PxsgNTw2


http://media.tumblr.com/9f999eab1f1a1a86758d674d383f1577/tumblr_inline_mkz9vsiEYD1qz4rgp.jpg

Big Mistake! They will ADD another intersection at the Cornish which means more traffic at the morning! In addition, traffic lights are not solutions here! They should create tunnels or bridges to make traffic smoother!

Tunnels and bridges cost money, it seems Qatar has money to spend abroad, but none to spend on the country, if I was a local that would make me a little bit upset.

just uploaded the video...

FMDL3hM4osE

This would make my life so much easier...

A riveting clip of Qatar re-imagined with three new funky bridges that connect different parts of the country has been circulating the Internet.

The designs were first conceived by Spanish architect and structural engineer Santiago Calatrava at the behest of the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Urban Planning (MMUP) in 2011, but a video of them was just uploaded this week. They depict a major traffic connection linking the new Hamad International Airport area with the West Bay financial district and Lusail.

According to a feasibility study conducted by the COWI consulting group, the ideal way to link all these areas is through an underwater tunnel. Calavera explains on his website that he designed three bridges instead of aesthetic purposes, but each includes short tunnel underpasses.

Delays

The multi-billion Doha Bay Crossing project has been talked about for almost five years. It is being managed by Ashghal, which said it was close to awarding contracts last year, but not much progress appears to have been made since then.

An Ashghal spokeswoman told Doha News that they have no updates to give on the project, though some reports have surfaced that US-based Fluor and the local office of KEO International Consultants were recently appointed to manage it.

Regardless of which design Qatar chooses to go with, it should get started soon. According to COWI:

The current road connection between the New Doha International Airport and the West Bay Area through the Corniche Road and the “A” Ring Road will not be able to accommodate future traffic demand.

Article Source : Dohanews.co (http://dohanews.co/post/48521273873/newly-posted-designs-revive-talk-of-doha-bay-crossing)

DOHA BAY CROSSING, FEASIBILITY STUDY, QATAR
http://www.cowi-gulf.com/menu/projects/EconomicsManagementandPlanning/PublishingImages/EMV_Final05%20copy425x200.jpg

COWI has evaluated alternative options for improving the transport infrastructure in Qatar's capital of Doha.

Qatar's capital, Doha, is developing fast. Due to a considerable increase in the population, car ownership and the development of new city districts such as Lusail and The Pearl, Doha Greater Area will experience serious traffic problems in the near future.

In particular, the current road connection between the New Doha International Airport and the West Bay Area through the Corniche Road and the “A” Ring Road will not be able to accommodate future traffic demand.

Various options for north-south link
COWI has conducted a comprehensive feasibility study for various options for a north-south traffic link and subsequent proposals for the preferred solutions.

The study included evaluation of a 5 km long tunnel under the city, a six km long bridge over Doha Bay, which will run traffic around the city itself, as well as establishment of a metro system.

An under-sea tunnel is the preferred solution
The study confirmed that there is a significant need for a link, and the solution recommended is a pure tunnel solution, constructed as an immersed tunnel.

The main tunnel will be about ten kilometer long, and will include a branch to link into the West Bay area midway. There will be a fully submerged Interchange.

The conclusion of the study is also that a Bay Crossing alone will not solve the traffic problems in Doha, and there will be a need to further strengthen the road network in Doha. A Metro system is already under development.

LAST UPDATED: 17.04.2013

Source : http://www.cowi-gulf.com/ (http://www.cowi-gulf.com/menu/projects/EconomicsManagementandPlanning/Pages/dohabaycrossingfeasibilitystudyqatar.aspx)

April 5th, 2013 — 10:39am

Large-scale tunnelling schemes will provide base for Qatar infrastructure ahead of the Fifa World Cup

Doha is about to become the tunnelling capital of the Middle East as it moves forward on a series of multibillion-dollar infrastructure schemes ahead of the Fifa 2022 World Cup.

The projects that involve large-scale tunnelling works are the Doha Bay Crossing, the Inner Doha Resewerage Implementation Strategy (Idris), and the Doha metro scheme.

The most advanced scheme is the Doha metro. Contractors submitted bids for the tunnelling packages at the end of last year and awards are expected imminently for the Red Line South and Red Line North packages.

The two other schemes are at earlier stages. After the appointment of US-based CH2M Hill as programme manager in 2011, contractors have now been invited to prequalify for the first construction packages on the Idris scheme, with tendering and contract awards expected to start later this year.

The Doha Bay Crossing, which involves building a series of bridges and tunnels, is at an even earlier stage, but after some doubts on the future of the project, US-based Fluor and the local office of KEO International Consultants have now been appointed to manage the project – the clearest signal yet that the estimated QR10bn ($2.7bn) scheme will move ahead.

As Doha gears up for the World Cup, most eyes will be on the stadiums and other facilities that will be built above the surface, but most of the real work will be going on underground.

Article Source : http://www.hgcoc.com/ (http://www.hgcoc.com/blog/2013/04/05/work-starts-from-the-ground-up-in-qatar/)

http://www.al-sharq.com//ArticleDetails.aspx?AID=262786&CatID=64&title=%D8%A8%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B5%D9%88%D8%B1%20%D9%88%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%81%D9%8A%D8%AF%D9%8A%D9%88..%20%22%D8%A8%D9%88%D8%A7%D8%A8%D8%A9%20%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B4%D8%B1%D9%82%22%20%D8%AA%D9%86%D9%81%D8%B1%D8%AF%20%D8%A8%D9%86%D8%B4%D8%B1%20%D8%AA%D8%B5%D8%A7%D9%85%D9%8A%D9%85%20%D9%85%D8%B9%D8%A8%D8%B1%20%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AE%D9%84%D9%8A%D8%AC#tab-2

الحرامية وكاتبين حصري بعد

حصري في عينهم واحنا عندنا من سنين!

^^ :lol: 3adi 3adi happens a lot, everything is stolen... even qatar shares stole stuff about ezdan mall that i posted including the list of shops that I gathered....

I think we should create a thread in the world section for this. any volunteers ? :D im too lazy to do it.

Sharq Crossing project moves ahead

The $5bn Sharq Crossing Programme, previously known as the Doha Bay Crossing programme, is moving ahead with the awarding of a $185mn contract by Ashghal to US-based Fluor Corporation for programme management and construction supervision services.
The contract was recently signed by both parties, heraldonline.com reported yesterday. Sharq Crossing is a marquee programme in Qatar’s ambitious development plans ahead of the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
The project will traverse Doha Bay and comprise bridge sections interconnected by an immersed tube tunnel to create a new passageway beneath the waters of Doha Bay. Completion of the system is required by 2020 to support the run-up to the World Cup event.
“We are extremely proud to have been chosen to work side-by-side with Ashghal to develop and oversee this landmark project that will help transform the landscape of Doha,” Herb Morgan, business line lead for Fluor Infrastructure, was quoted as saying by heraldonline.com
“Fluor’s strategic programme management experience in the Middle East underscores the value we bring to our clients on major transportation and infrastructure projects like Sharq Crossing.”
The project will be led from Fluor’s Doha office with support from the Abu Dhabi and Greenville, South Carolina, offices. A team has already mobilised to the field and is supporting the client on the project.
The Sharq Crossing Programme, set to be completed by 2019-2020, is part of Ashghal’s massive QR100bn infrastructure development projects.
For more than 100 years, Fluor Corporation has partnered with its clients to design, build and maintain many of the world’s most challenging and complex capital projects.
The company which has a global network of offices on six continents and more than 40,000 employees, provides services in the fields of engineering, procurement, construction, commissioning, fabrication, operations, maintenance and project management.
Fluor serves a global client base in the energy, chemicals, government, industrial, infrastructure, operations and maintenance, manufacturing and life sciences, mining, power and transportation sectors.
Headquartered in Irving, Texas, Fluor ranks 110 on the FORTUNE 500 list and had revenue of $27.6bn in 2012.

http://www.gulf-times.com/qatar/178/details/352923/sharq-crossing-project-moves-ahead

2019 -2020 ! lets do the math because that how the math working in our projects dates
when they say 2019-2020 what you need to do add these numbers together

2019
+2020
______
4039 <<< completion date inshallah ya shabab 8reeb

its 6 years to 2019.... does this make sense ? they are working in a relatively remote area away from people, traffic etc. Under water though.. ?!

Doha bay crossing is much better than sharq crossing.
6 Years actually sounds right for project this size..

^^ 22nd February (Doha expressway) took 6 years if my memory serves me right :)

Is this important for the world cup? if so, any delays wouldn't take more than one year after the official completion date.

Give or take a 1 year delay, I think it's achievable.

Halawala please change the title!

^^ 22nd February (Doha expressway) took 6 years if my memory serves me right :)


that was long time ago when Doha made a mistake and signed up contracts without even know who really they are and what they project they have done !also remember when they started thinking about t doha expressway that was 2002 2003 ish ! thats really long time ago !
we are in 2013, work should be faster since we become richer.