Bids in for Abu Dhabi road job

Abu Dhabi is upgrading its road infrastructure.

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The Department of Transport (DoT) in Abu Dhabi has received bids from three international consortia competing for the 25 year concession to upgrade, finance, operate and maintain the Mafraq-Ghweifat Highway.

The Highway, which stretches 327 km from Mafraq to the border at Ghweifat, provides the only access route to the Western Region, including the industrial centre of Ruwais and several tourist destinations.

The project will see the highway widened to four lanes in each direction (three around Ghweifat) and upgraded to meet international standards in highway design and safety.

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Once completed, the winning consortium will be responsible for maintaining and operating the upgraded highway while meeting performance standards relating to safety, availability and quality for a period of 25 years.

"The project has attracted substantial international interest -- the companies competing to deliver the project are among the largest and best in their field. The project also requires significant input from local companies, who will work closely with the international firms and benefit from the transfer of international best practice," said Eng. Faisal Al Suwaidi, general director of main roads for the Department of Transport in Abu Dhabi.

"Each of the three consortia brings with it the international best-practice, local knowhow and financial strength to provide a world-class highway which will create a new standard in regional transport infrastructure, reducing accidents and improving travel reliability on this critical link to the Western Region.

“This approach illustrates our department's vision of creating a world-class, sustainable transport network incorporating the latest technologies and techniques.”.

Payment to the consortium will be via a series of equal payments spread over 25 years. These ongoing payments will be subject to deductions for failure to meet the prescribed performance standards and will ensure the consortium remains accountable for the operational performance of the road over the 25 year period.

Ten international consortia were invited to submit statements of interest. Amongst the three that made bids were Irtibaat, including Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank; Construtora Norberto Odebrecht; Besix, Al Jaber, Mouchel Middle East and others.

Mafraq Motorway Group includes Strabag SE; Saif Bin Darwish; Joannou & Paraskevaides, Egis Projects and others.

MTD-CSCEC Consortium includes MTD Group; China State Engineering Construction Company and Ghantoot Transport.