Bahrain airport to tender design in Q1

Bahrain Airport Company CEO Dr Osama Al Ali

The design contract for two new terminals at Bahrain International Airport will go to tender within the first quarter of 2010 according to Bahrain Airport Company (BAC) CEO Dr Osama Al Ali.

“It should be within the first few weeks of the New Year, but certainly within the first quarter,” he told Construction Week on Sunday.

He added that they plan to invite contractors to bid for the first construction contract within the first half of 2010.

Advertisement

FEATURED COMMENT While Bahrain keeps talking of 'tendering' and 'design awards' for years, other airports in the region have surpassed it   3 Comments Read more comments »

The new terminals are part of a $4.7 billion (BD 1.8 million) expansion of the airport which also includes new aprons, separate piers, a people mover system, car parking, road works and infrastructure.

There will also be an adjacent “airport city” with hotels, conference centres, retail and recreational facilities.

Al Ali said BAC is currently evaluating bids from around 10 companies, including WS Atkins and Naco, for the contract for utilities and land utilisation planning – a “significant contract” which should be awarded early next year.

The first phase of the expansion will increase the airport’s annual passenger capacity from seven million people to 12 million when it is commissioned in 2012.

The long term plan for Bahrain airport will see capacity rise to 28 million by 2030, a vision which will be completed over five phases. Phase two is to start in 2012 with completion set for 2015.

In 2008 the airport had a volume of 9.2 million passengers.

In May, consultancy firm Hill International was awarded a $36.5 million contract to manage the project over an eight year term.

---