Sultanate of Oman

Development and Expansion of Main Roads
Loan No: 636 Interest Rate: 2.5 %
Beneficiary: Ministry of Transportation and Communications Grace Period: 5 years
Project Cost: KD 90.3 million Maturity: 30 years
Amount of Loan: KD 50.0 million Repayment: 51 semi-annual installments
Date of Board Approval: - First Installment: 5 years following the first disbursement
Date of Loan Agreement: 2016-12-28 Date of Loan Effectiveness: -

Objectives:

The project aims at improving land transportation services on the main corridors of the road network to accommodate the rapid increase in road traffic and reduce traffic accidents. The project also aims at contributing to the economic and social development of Al-Batinah South and Dhofar governorates, which are located in the north and south of Oman, respectively.

Description:

The project, which is expected to be completed by the middle of 2018, comprises the development and expansion of two main roads, and the transformation of each of them from a single carriageway with two lanes, one in each direction, into a dual carriageway with four lanes, two in each direction. The two main roads are:

  1. First Road: Barka – Nakhl Road, located in Al-Batinah South governorate, with a length of about 38.5 km, in addition to service roads with a total length of about 27 km.
  2. Second Road: Taqah – Mirbat Road, located in Dhofar governorate, with a length of about 36.0 km, in addition to service roads with a total length of about 18 km.

The project includes all the civil works required for the development and expansion of each road, through the construction of a new parallel road consisting of 2 lanes with a total width of 7.5 m, a median with a width ranging between 3.6 and 5.0 m, outside and inside shoulders with widths of 2.5 m and 1.2 m, respectively, in addition to the rehabilitation and partial reconstruction of the existing road, and consultancy services. The project components can be summarized as follows:

  1. Civil Works:This includes, for each road, preliminary works, earthworks, removal of pavement layers, new pavement works, and structural works for interchanges, bridges, pedestrian overpasses and underpasses, and culverts. It also includes ancillary works such as road side protection, utility networks, road illumination and traffic safety works.
  2. Consultancy Services:This includes, for each road, the provision of the consultancy services required for the preparation of studies, designs and tender documents, as well as assistance in tender evaluation and project supervision.

Financing:

The Arab Fund’s loan covers about 55% of the total project cost. The Omani Government will cover the remaining cost of the project and any additional cost that may arise.