Work on Bahrain projects resume

WORK on major projects linking Bahrain’s financial district to Muharraq has resumed after being stalled by unrest.
Among them is the BD98-million ($259 million) North Manama Causeway, which includes the building of a 2.4-km six-lane highway and three bridges, according to the Works Ministry. The King Faisal Highway and the Al Fateh junction are to be upgraded as part of this project.

“Work had stopped last month due to the situation in Bahrain but is now going on full steam,” an official said.
According to the official, work is also under way on a new road that will carry traffic from near the Diplomatic Area towards the former GCC Roundabout. There are also plans to create additional parking facilities along the Manama Corniche to accommodate the increasing number of tourists and visitors. Simultaneously, a project to landscape the entire area around the corniche, near the Bahrain Financial Harbour, is also ongoing.

Additional pedestrian safety measures and improved pedestrian access to the corniche are being made and the length of the footbridge is being increased.

Meanwhile, a tender for the Mina Salman Interchange Project is set to be awarded soon, the official revealed. Haji Hassan Group is expected to be awarded the project after it emerged as the lowest bidder in a tender last year.

Bubiyan port foundation laid.

THE foundation stone was laid for Mubarak Al Kabir Seaport at the Bubiyan Island in Kuwait, the construction of which will be executed through four phases.

Phase One of the project has already begun, which includes establishing expressways and railways connecting all parts of the island, as well as building bridges for cars and trains. The number of berths is expected to reach 60 with a depth of 20 m each in order to accommodate large vessels.

“This would enable the port to receive incoming ships and stimulate cargo traffic, which would create new investment and job opportunities,” said Dr Fadhel Safar, Minister of Public Works and Minister of State for Municipal Affairs.

Parsons wins Ashghal contract

QATAR Public Works Authority (Ashghal) has awarded Parsons the consultancy services for the refurbishment and upgrading works at various pumping stations in Doha, Qatar’s capital.

The programme includes four stand-alone construction projects, each comprising three to six pumping stations located in and around Doha.

Parsons will design reviews and provide construction supervision and overall project management on behalf of Ashghal.

Steel price rise ‘hits construction’

PRICES of steel and other construction materials in Saudi Arabia continue to fluctuate despite government intervention, and are causing further delays to public and private projects, according to a local report.

The price rise is also affecting plumbing, electrical and painting contractors, the Saudi Gazette newspaper said, adding that most of the shortages in construction materials were being caused by merchants hoarding their goods in order to inflate prices.

In 2009, the global economic crisis led to a notable reduction in liquidity in the real estate market, which reduced steel prices from SR5,500 ($1,466) a tonne to SR2,256 ($601) and consequently led to a fall in house rents, the report said.

However, in 2010 prices of construction materials started to rise again and contractors were hit as the price of a tonne of steel reached SR3,200 ($853), leading the Ministry of Trade to order companies and distributors to stick to a government price list.

In January this year, the ministry said it would take measures against anyone involved in raising prices unjustifiably, including “naming the party and halting its activities”, the report added.

Go-ahead for expat dormitories

THE Kuwait Municipality has given the go-ahead to the Ministry of Public Works to build dormitories at a scrapyard in South Amghara for expatriate labourers at a cost of KD25 million ($90.4 million).

Scheduled for completion in 30 months, the dormitories will comprise six floors to accommodate about 60,000 workers, whereas similar projects in Sabhan and Shadadiyah areas will constitute three and four floors respectively, according to Faisal Al Ostad, special projects architect at the MPW.

Parsons and Aecom wins rail deal

QATAR has picked US engineering firms Parsons and Aecom to manage the construction of a light rail transit system in the Gulf nation’s largest real estate development. The Qatar Railways Company and property developer Qatari Diar said the deal signed in New York is worth $42.5 million. It covers the construction of 30 km of track and 24 above-ground and subway stations in Lusail City, which Qatari Diar is building north of the capital Doha.

SRO awards bypass contract

SAUDI Railway Organization (SRO) has awarded Saad Al Mobty & Partners a SR659-million ($175 million) contract for construction of a bypass to move its existing railway away from the centre of Hofuf, which is a key junction on the SRO main line between Dammam and Riyadh. Realignment of the railway is expected to permit the introduction of 200-kmph operation for passenger services as well as reduce conflicts with urban development.