Qatar's Public Works Authority (Ashgal) has announced major development works at Al Wakra and Mesaieed in the south of the country over the next three years at a total cost of QR10 billion ($2.74 billion), said a report.

The project includes the East West Corridor involving the construction of 22km dual carriageway with five lanes in each direction, besides the construction of eight multi-level interchanges, reported The Peninsula.

The East West Corridor begins at the Airport Street, south of the Air Force Roundabout, and runs past Barwa Development to connect with the new Mesaieed to Salwa Road south of the Industrial Area.

The project will provide new links to several main roads and residential areas in the south area, and will connect the New Orbital Highway and Truck Route to the Hamad International Airport, stated the report.

The project is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2018, it added.

The Al Wakra Bypass project involves the construction of a 11-km dual carriageway with five lanes in each direction. It starts at Al Mashaf Road and stretches to Mesaieed Road, creating the main bypass to Al Wakra city.

The project also includes the construction of a tunnel and five two-level interchanges that will link the south of Al Wakra city to the Hamad International Airport and New Doha Port. It is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2018, the report stated.

Ashghal said these projects will help improve connectivity and enhance traffic safety in the south of Qatar by separating traffic with flyovers, underpasses and tunnels and replacing roundabouts with signalised junctions.

The infrastructure improvements will also include storm water drainage networks, treated sewage effluent networks, electrical, telecommunication, and surveillance networks, the implementation of Intelligent Transport Systems, street lighting and dedicated lanes for pedestrians and cyclists, it added.