Hill International, a global leader in managing construction risk, has announced that it has been awarded a contract by the Rua Al Madinah Holding Company to provide project management support for the advance roadways package of the Madinah Central Area (MCA) development, a 1.4-sq-km project that will ultimately deliver greatly expanded retail and hospitality assets in the Makkah municipality.

The development of MCA is part of Saudi Arabia’s ambitious Vision 2030 programme.

The advance infrastructure package will enable the Al Amida Road to serve as an alternative to the current ring road by expanding the roadway to six lanes and upgrading the Ali Bin Abi Taleb traffic tunnel and connect Al Amida to the King Faisal ring road, said Hill.

Work includes removal of existing pavement, guardrail, barriers, trees, curbs, excavation, construction of roadway, relocation of service reservation, paving, drainage, sewerage, potable water, streetlighting, telecommunication and power networks, pavement marking, installation of new guardrail and barriers, extension of existing utility ducts, backfilling and compaction, traffic detouring and management, and other construction-related work. The project is scheduled for completion in 2023.

“This initial package of works is critical to the long-term success of the MCA development,” remarked Abdo Kardous, Regional President for the Middle East of Hill International. “Our team will help make certain the new roadway realises Rua Al-Madinah’s objectives and provides improved access and mobility to the Central Area,” he noted.