Abu Dhabi General Services Company (Musanada) said work was progressing well on the Dh5.3 billion ($1.44 billion) Mafraq-Ghuwaifat Road project and was on track for completion by the middle of next year.
The company said it has completed 72 per cent of Mafraq-Ghuwaifat Road project.
The scope of work includes construction of 16 new interchanges, undertake improvement work to the existing interchanges at Mafraq, Hameem, Abu Al Abyad and Madinat Zayed interchange, as well as huge improvements on the existing interchanges to bring the total improvement work up to 246 km long, which extends from Mafraq to the international borders with Saudi Arabia in Ghuwaifat and the industrial hub in Ruwais.
As per the project plan, the delivery of Phase One of the project will be during this year, while the project is to be completed by mid-2017, said a statement from Musanada.
This is driven by Musanada’s keen interest to incorporate the visions of HH Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the President of the United Arab Emirates and in implementation of the directives of Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, Deputy Supreme Commander of Armed Forces, in line with Plan Capital framework and one of its main objectives to provide an effective transport system serves the emirate and its economy and integrate land transport networks and services through a sustainable infrastructure as per the international standards.
Hamdan Ahmed Al Mazrouei, the acting road director at Musanada, said the project teams are working 24/7 to deliver work as per the project plan in consideration of the road significance in linking the Western Region cities and facilitating the commercial transport on the international road.
"The project includes six packages, with a manpower of 8500 consultants, engineers, and workers," he stated.
“The project encompasses construction of new lanes in both directions, from 2 to 4 lanes in each direction along 182 km extending from Mafraq until Baynounah Forest Area, and from two lanes to 3 lanes in each direction along 64 km extending from Baraka until Ghuwaifat,” added Al Mazrouei.
"Furthermore, the project encompasses construction of lay-by parking for road users. Work is in progress to execute a shoulder on the right side for both directions for emergencies," he noted.
"This is as well as construction of underpass for camels in areas of proximity to Silaa and Ghuwaifat, which will serve camel owners in areas adjacent to the road and the camel race track close to Silaa," he added.
Faisal Al Suwaidi, the director of Main Roads Division in the Department of Municipal Affairs and Transport, said: "In accordance with its plan to maintain safety of road users, proportional to the urban development and population and economic growth in the Western Region, the department delivers strategic projects contribute to the environmental sustainability of Abu Dhabi as well as the traffic safety."
“The project completion ration could not have been achieved without the continuous and constructive cooperation of all strategic stakeholders,” he added.
Musanada, in collaboration with the department and The General Directorate of Abu Dhabi Police, has launched a campaign to update users on the new detours, junctions, freeways and roads and raise safety awareness among road users.
On the project progress, Al Suwaidi said recently, detours for Phase Three in section 4B, which extend from the Truck Road Interchange with 4 km long were opened as well as detours for Phase Two from the Truck Road Interchange until Madinat Zayed with 80 km long, leading the vehicle route to be off-track.
As part of Musanada’s commitment towards the standards of Green Sustainability, the Mafraq- Ghuwaifat Road Project will be supplied with (LED) system for roads and junctions lighting, which will play part in reducing the power consumption to a minimum of 60 per cent, he added.-TradeArabia News Service
$1.4bn Abu Dhabi road project on track for 2017 opening
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