THE Municipality of Abu Dhabi has invited private sector investors to build and manage the first project that forms part of a strategic network of highway rest areas, using a build-operate-transfer (BOT) model.

The series of highway rest areas is aimed at enhancing amenities and services for road users and improving safety on Sheikh Maktoum Bin Rashid Road by providing safe access, exits, and parking to commuters.

Through this network of new facilities, the municipality intends to enhance the experience for road users who travel between Abu Dhabi and the Western and Eastern regions, the Northern Emirates, and Oman. The design concept for the new highway rest areas is based on similar best-practice examples adopted for highways in both Europe and North America.

The municipality has developed a masterplan that identifies five strategic locations that will benefit from the improved amenities. Phase One focuses on Ghantoot, which has an immediate short-term need to address road safety for commuters and light trucks in areas where there is a high volume of traffic, but limited services to meet demand. Phase Two, to be tendered at a later date, will focus on rest areas in locations such as Truck Highway E75.

The new-format highway rest areas will be located near major intersections close to the highway and positioned on a plot area of approximately 16,345 sq m.