Qatar will invest QR45bn ($12.36bn) on road projects to improve and create new networks by 2015.

According to a report by Kuwait Financial Centre (Markaz), at the end of June 2011, the total value of ongoing road projects in Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries is worth QR65bn, with further plans to invest about QR211bn ($57.9bn) between 2011 – 2015, reports tradearabia.com.

Out of the total projects 22% of the projects are being implemented in Qatar worth QR14.3bn ($3.9bn).

According to the report, Qatar will overtake the United Arab Emirates in terms of planned investments on road projects in next five years.

The country currently has 7,790km of roads, with a traffic density of 78 vehicles per kilometre of road, and will be investing $12.36bn to improve the highways

Some of the major projects include the QR1bn ($274m) project No 17 in Al Wakrah and Wukair, which will link Al Wakrah with Doha through a 24km metallic road.

Another significant development is the Doha Expressway in the south of Doha, linking southern and western parts of Doha with New Doha International Airport, Al Wakra and Mesaieed.

Future projects planned by Public Works Authority of Qatar include the 35km stretch from Zabara intersection to Ras Usheirej, which involves the link bridge between the state of Qatar and kingdom of Bahrain. Also in development is the Salwa Road – phase III from Asiri Interchange to the A Ring Road, and Road No 55 from Salwa to Mesaeed.