Preliminary work has started on a BD22 million ($58.35 million) highway to a resort city under construction in the south east of Bahrain.

The project involves the construction of 27 km of dual two-lane arterial highway and associated junctions, from the Hawar Highway near Askar to the Durrat Al Bahrain resort near Ras Al Barr.

The roads directorate at the Works and Housing Ministry has engaged local consultant Ismail Khonji Associates, in association with international consultant High-Point Rendel, to design the highway.

The project, which includes five grade-separated interchanges, has a construction period of 24 months. Tenders will be invited as soon as the necessary procedures are complete, said under-secretary Nayef Al Kalali.

The consultant is undertaking the prequalification exercise whereby suitable GCC contractors are selected to tender for the works.

The major junctions on the highway will provide improved access to coastal villages of Askar, Jau and Ad Dur as well as the ferry terminal to Hawar Islands, said Al Kalali.