The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) in Dubai said it will shortlist at the end of this month (June 30) consortiums qualified to undertake Route 2020 project, which will be tendered on the basis of a design-build contract model.

This will follow the receipt of requests for pre-qualifications, which were expected by end of last month (May 31), said Mattar Al Tayer, chairman of the board and executive director of the RTA.

On July 2, the RTA will release the tender documents and on December 6 it will start receiving proposals submitted. On January 28 next year, the RTA will announce the consortium that wins the project, he said.

“Construction works on Route 2020 project will start once the contract is awarded in the first quarter of next year, and the project is expected to be accomplished in the first quarter of 2020 such that it will be up-and-running to serve visitors of Expo 2020,” Al Tayer said.

Route 2020 project, which encompasses the extension of the Dubai Metro Red Line from Nakheel Harbour and Tower Station to the site of Expo 2020, stretches about 15 km (11 km viaducts and four km underground), and includes seven stations (five elevated, and two underground stations).