The team beat off competition from Parsons Brinckerhoff of the US, the local Khatib & Alami, ACE Engineeringof Jordan, Saudi Consulting Services with the local Team International and France's Thaleswith Saudi Arabia's Etec.

The $70 million corridor improvement package of the World Bank-financed project includes the construction of flyovers, bridges and junctions. CDR is expected to issue tenders by the end of October for two construction contracts on the package. The contracts will cover construction work at two separate locations in Beirut. Two further construction contracts will be tendered about six months later, with two more to follow. Thirteen contractors are prequalified for the construction work.

A team comprising Canada's IBI with Team International and Chance Management of the US is understood to have submitted the lowest bid for a second BUTP supervision package - the $30 million traffic management and on-street parking package. UK consultant Gibb with the local Rafik Khoury,Parsons Brinckerhoff with France's BCEOMand Sareco and Thales with Etec are the other bidders (MEED 7:3:03).