Dutco Balfour Beatty (DBB), the main contractor on Dubai International Airport access roads and parking project, started work on the project in August 1998 and reached two principle milestones during its implementation, says Terry Bradbury, general manager (international business UAE) of DBB.

"The first milestone was reached in November 1999 and involved the completion of all works along the frontage of the airport," he says. "We then started working on the second phase which involved the construction of an overbridge and an underpass at the Cargo Village junction which was completed last August."

Phase One of the project involved the construction of a new roads system providing access to and from the airport. It also incorporated the construction of two pedestrian bridges, with moving walkways, from the new car-park to the terminal building. DBB's scope of work also included the realignment and reconstruction of the Airport Road. The value of the whole project was Dh140 million ($38.15 million).

"The project has features which are unique in Dubai. These include the pedestrian bridges with moving walkways, the first such bridges to be constructed by Dubai. The other unique feature is the underpass tiling, which is done in great detail and is intended to give visitors a taste of the city. The tiling has reproductions of the Burj Al Arab, the new concourse, aircraft and views of the creek, amongst other attractions.

Commenting on the difficulties faced while executing the project, Bradbury says: "It was a demanding project from the schedule point of view. Traffic management was complicated and was the main difficult aspect of the project."

DBB, formerly known as Mina Jebel Ali Construction, was founded in 1976 and over the years has developed into a major force in the construction industry of the Middle East.

The shareholders of the company are the locally-owned Dubai Transport Company and Balfour Beatty Limited, one of the major construction companies based in the UK and operating worldwide.

The company, along with its sister concern BK Gulf, provides a complete contracting service including design, procurement, installation, project management, commissioning and maintenance to meet specific client requirements.

"The highest professional standards of workmanship and service are maintained through DBB's commitment to efficient pre-planning, the use of highly-skilled craftsmen and the maintenance of permanent local teams,'' Bradbury adds.

BK Gulf's wide range of expertise includes electrical, mechanical and multi-service contracts, including the design and construction of power stations, reticulation, telecommunications, electrical and instrumentation installations for industrial projects such as aluminium smelters, desalination plants, cable factories, cement plants, fertiliser plants, oil and petrochemical plants and the electrical and mechanical services in airports, harbours, hospitals, hotels and commercial buildings.

Besides the access roads projects, other major recent projects in the UAE include the quay wall works and offsite improvements for Enoc at Jebel Ali Port, together with marine works at Fujairah Port and fishing harbours.

Projects DBB has been involved with in the UAE include: the construction of the new airport arrivals terminal; the complete refurbishment of the airport departures terminal, including the Dubai Duty Free; the construction of exhibition halls for Dubai International Airshow, later to be used as maintenance hangars; Emirates Technical Centre (double hangar); concrete repairs to Shindagha Tunnel; Jebel Ali gas turbine and multi-stage flash desalination station G; Al Maktoum bridges and intersections; Emirates Training Centre; island and marina construction at Jumeirah Beach Resort; Dubai International Airport GSE Complex and Dubai Duty Free warehouse; permanent bridge, pools, pump houses and external works at Jumeirah Beach Resort; improvement of Shaikh Zayed Road and overbridges; Wild Wadi at Jumeirah Beach Resort; tanker berths at Jebel Ali Port; and a maintenance base for UAE frontier Coastguard; and cement silos.