THE Ar-Riyadh Development Authority (ADA) is investing SR14.31 billion ($3.8 billion) in four projects in Saudi Arabia’s capital city Riyadh.
The projects include building of the Riyadh Light Railway (RLR), extension of the Al Uruba and Abu Bakr Al Siddiq roads, building of the Riyadh Ring Road/West Link, and an addition of 57,000 sq m of office space to the King Fahd National Library.
“These are in accordance with the plan of the ADA, whose chairman is Riyadh Governor Prince Salman, to further develop the capital and render more basic services to residents,” said an ADA spokesman.
The RLR will cost $3 billion when completed in 2017 and will consist of two lines – Line One will stretch 25 km from north to south, cover 30 districts and have 23 stations. Line Two will be 17 km long, extending from the eastern side of the ring road across King Abdul Aziz Road up to King Khaled Road in the west, and will have 13 stations.
The extension of the Al Uruba and Abu Bakr Al Siddiq roads will cost $533 million when finished. Work on the project started in January this year and is expected to finish by the third quarter of 2012. The project extends from the intersection with King Abdul Aziz Road to the intersection of Abdul Rahman Al Ghafiqui Road and the Eastern Ring Road. It further intersects Abu Bakr Al Siddiq Road at Hurr and includes two tunnels (900 m each).
Abu Bakr Al Siddiq Road will run to the south intersecting with Salah Al Deen Al Ayoubi Road and will house a 1,600-m-long tunnel. The project was awarded to Mabani General Contractors Company.
The Riyadh Ring Road/West Link will cost $213 million when finished. The project began in 2006 and is expected to be completed this July. It includes a 30-km eight-lane highway that will run from Salbouk Road in Riyadh to Taif Road.
Seven interchanges and three bridges (the Wadi Obier, Wadi Al Mahdia and Wadi Hanifa bridges) will also be built as part of the project, which was awarded to Shibh Al Jazira Contracting Company.
The King Fahd National Library project will cost $70 million when completed. It is expected to be finished by the fourth quarter of this year. It was awarded to Saudi Binladin Group.
