Skip to main content

New Doha highway under construction

Construction is now underway on the New Orbital Highway in Doha, Qatar. This project is called The New Orbital Highway contract 2 and is one of the largest projects being delivered through the Qatar’s public work authority Ashghal. The work consists of the design and construction of 47km of highway with a five-lane dual carriageway for light vehicles and two truck lanes in each direction. It also includes six viaducts, 17 bridges and underpasses and a 320m cut-and-cover tunnel. This last is particularly
March 18, 2016 Read time: 3 mins
The cutter drum is centrally mounted and extends past the machine’s tracks
Construction is now underway on the New Orbital Highway in Doha, Qatar. This project is called The New Orbital Highway contract 2 and is one of the largest projects being delivered through the Qatar’s public work authority Ashghal.

The work consists of the design and construction of 47km of highway with a five-lane dual carriageway for light vehicles and two truck lanes in each direction. It also includes six viaducts, 17 bridges and underpasses and a 320m cut-and-cover tunnel. This last is particularly complex and includes eight grade-separate interchanges with cross roads, collectors-distributors, overpass and underpass structures, pedestrian and bicycle paths and landscaping. Major infrastructure improvements will be built as part of the project, including a new and efficient storm water drainage network, as well as treated sewage effluent networks, electrical and telecommunication networks, street lighting and substations

The joint venture firm QDVC-Bin Omran is handling the US$1.6 billion contract and the work started in May 2014 while it is due for completion within 36 months.

QDVC is a Qatari company comprising local firm 3438 Qatari Diar Real Estate Investment Company and French firm 3085 VINCI Construction Grands Projets. The relationship between 2342 Tesmec and QDVC started in September 2013, when QDVC used its first Tesmec machine (Tesmec model 1475 RH) for the construction of one of Doha’s subway stations.

QDVC was convinced with the quality of the machine and the level of service provided by the local Tesmec team. As a result, QDVC then opted to purchase three Tesmec 1475 RHs for its new project: the New Orbital Highway (NOH2). Subsequently, six more units have been purchased to increase QDVC’s Tesmec fleet to nine machines. All nine are currently excavating and levelling along the 47km route.
The units purchased by QDVC are eight Tesmec model 1475 RH (Rock Hawg) and one Tesmec model 1475 CS (chainsaw). The 1475 RH is a 110tonner powered by a C18 178 Caterpillar diesel delivering 470kW. The machine’s drum allows it to extract rock 3.81m wide and to a depth of 600mm.

This machine can be used to excavate rock in the conditions cost-effectively and productively, without the need for the use of explosives. Compared with blasting, mechanised cutting is a safe working method as the risk of flyrock is much reduced. From an environmental perspective any dust produced is localised (and can be controlled using water if required). Meanwhile the noise levels are low and continuous and there are no shock waves generated that can cause damage to buildings in the vicinity of the working area, so the machine can be used in urban areas with minimal disturbance.

Compared to other mechanical excavation methods (such as excavators with hydraulic rock breakers) the machine is said to be highly cost-effective. The equipment is said to be up to 15 times more productive in this type of application than a 25tonne class excavator fitted with rock cutting equipment.

The material produced by the cutting process is also uniform in size, making it easier to handle than the blasted rock produced when drilling and blasting. The cuttings are also suitable for use in backfilling or for road base applications, reducing costs with regard to buying or transporting materials to site.

Another benefit of the Rock Hawg is that the unit can be used to excavate vertical sidewalls due to the drum being wider than the machine’s own tracks. With the drum being centrally supported, the machine is also able to excavate rock with square corners so that the surface may not require any additional finishing.

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Korean bridge construction poses challenges
    April 5, 2012
    On South Korea's southern coast, an innovative highway sea crossing is providing many engineering challenges The new Busan-Geoje crosses from South Korea's second city to its biggest island and is slightly shorter than the 12km of the country's famous Incheon project. In addition the main cable stay bridge for the Busan-Geoje project has a 475m span rather than the 800m of the Incheon central span. However the 8.2km Busan-Geoje project faces perhaps greater technical challenges and also includes a second b
  • Turning the construction industry green
    May 12, 2023
    Green is good for industry – delivering sustainability can also help reduce costs for construction firms, ensuring better financial performance
  • Rebuilding roads in Italy
    February 16, 2024
    A fleet of Liebherr ADTs is helping with the construction of a major project at Lake Reschen in Northern Italy, close to the country’s borders with Austria and Switzerland.
  • Highways: environmental problem or environmental enhancement?
    March 21, 2016
    Highways need not be a blight on the countryside that many people, urban planners included, believe they will always be. By Bram Miller, director, and Martin Broderick, environmental consultant, at Ramboll Environ While the world’s highway networks bring undoubted economic and social benefits, they are generally perceived to lead to negative environmental impacts. Some may consider this an unfair reputation, but it is difficult to argue that in the majority of cases both the construction and operation of