Dubai RTA awards two construction contracts

The Board of Directors of the Roads & Transport Authority (RTA) has awarded two contracts as part of Phase I of the AED1bn ($272.2m) five-year internal roads construction plan in Dubai, UAE.

The contractors will construct internal roads at Al-Qusais 3 and Al-Qouz-4, at a cost of AED38m ($10.34m), to improve roads networks and accommodate the growing need of urban expansion.

RTA chairman of the board and executive director H.E. Mattar Al Tayer said the two projects represent the initial phase of the five-year plan (2012-2016), endorsed by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE, and Ruler of Dubai, for paving internal roads at several residential districts in Dubai Emirate at a cost of about one billion dirham.

"The initial phase of the plan covers five residential communities namely: Hatta and Al Qusais 3 in addition to Al Qouz 2, 3 and 4," Tayer added.

According to Tayer, the AED23m ($6.2m) road project at Al Qusais 3 is expected to start in June 2012, will take nine months to complete and includes the construction of roads extending 6km along with street lights, as well as parking slots for schools and mosques.

The work for Al Qouz 4 includes the construction of roads extending 8km, parking and lighting works, and storm-water drainage services at a cost of AED15m ($4m).

The construction work is expected to be completed in the first half of 2013, and is scheduled to start this week.

As a part of the five-year plan, Phase II will cover three residential districts in 2013 at a cost of around AED140m (S38.1m), while Phase III will start in 2014 and cost AED130m (S35.3m).

Phase IV, starting in 2015, will cost AED140m (S38.1m), while Phase V is valued at AED250m ($68m) and will start in 2016.