International Consortia submit bids for Abu Dhabi highway

Abu Dhabi's Department of Transport has announced it has received bids from three international consortia competing for the 25 year concession to upgrade, finance, operate and maintain the Mafraq - Ghweifat Highway, Wam has reported. The project, which is the first transport-related public-private partnership project in the GCC, will see the highway widened to four lanes in each direction (three in the less-trafficked portions near Ghweifat) and upgraded to meet international standards in highway design, safety, communications and services to users. The Highway, which stretches 327 km from Mafraq to the border at Ghweifat, provides the only access to the Western Region, including the industrial centre of Ruwais and several important tourist destinations.