OMAN’S Ministry of Transport and Communications has floated another package of tenders (Package Eight) for constructing the ambitious Al Batinah Expressway project.

According to the Tender Board, the tender documents were expected to be distributed until August 28 and the tenders will be opened on September 22.

“Three contracting firms, including Consolidated Contractors and Larsen and Toubro (Oman), have already bought the documents,” said a spokesman for the board.

“The first six main packages have already been floated and are under various stages of planning and construction,”
he added.

Al Batinah Expressway, a 265-km-long dual four-lane expressway, will connect the Muscat Expressway in the wilayat of Barka to Khatmat Malaha in the wilayat of Shinas.

When completed by the year 2016, Al Batinah Expressway will serve as an all-weather, eight-lane superhighway extending from Muscat to Khatmat Malaha on Oman’s border with the UAE.

The RO1-billion ($2.6 billion) project will provide a strong impetus to economic investment along the North and South Al Batinah governorates and the hinterland.