The Public Works Authority (Ashghal) has apologised to the public as well as the shopkeepers who have been hit hard by the delay in the completion of the Industrial Area Interchange project. In a statement issued yesterday to clarify the situation, the company admitted work on the intersection had come to a standstill. The statement put the blame on the main contractor for delaying the project, saying Ashghal had repeatedly warned the contracting company on this issue. “Ashghal hereby extends sincere apologies to the affected shopkeepers and the public for the troubles due to the unintentional delays in reopening the closed streets. It is a fact that the project work has come to a standstill, especially in the last three months. Hence, as a matter of transparency, Ashghal decided to inform the public about the progress of the project,” said the statement. The Industrial Area Interchange (Sanaiyya Interchange) project is a part of the Doha Expressway. The project site on the western entrance to Doha is linked to the Salwa International Highway and the Industrial Area, and therefore people are eagerly waiting for the completion of ongoing project works there. From the beginning of the work the contractor has been alerted and asked to review the work plan because of the slow pace of work. After repeated written warnings from Ashghal to improve the pace of work, the main contractor increased cash flow to the project, despite his inefficiency in completing the works within the deadline. However, the major portion of infrastructure development (65 percent) has been achieved and 77 percent of the construction of bridges and an underpass has been completed. What remains is the road level works and microtunneling works for a drainage system. Ashghal said the financial constraints of the contractor and the recent global recession had had an impact on the project. Ashghal has worked out a plan to address the situation and this plan has given priority to solving the problems of shopkeepers who are affected by the project and then reopening Salwa Road in phases, beginning from the opening of the bridge connecting Salwa Highway and Salwa Commercial Street. The public will be informed about the phased openings. The company said complaints and suggestions received from the public directly or through the media will be considered and appropriate follow-up actions will be taken on a priority basis. It also urged the public to give their suggestions and complaints regarding any works through its call centre on phone number 4950000. http://thepeninsulaqatar.com/Display_news.asp?section=Local%5FNews&subsection=Qatar+News&month=May2009&file=Local_News200905212235.xml

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