Construction work on the third and final phase of Riyadh’s bus rapid transit (BRT) infrastructure has commenced.

The final contract value of SAR1.9bn ($507m), confirmed by Turkish contractor Yuksel Insaat in a recent media briefing, is slightly lower compared to the commercial bid of $610m it submitted to the client, the Arriyadh Development Authority (ADA), in 2014.

The contract was signed between Yuksel and the client in December last year.

The final scope of the third phase of the BRT project includes 22km of road rehabilitation, 17 pairs of BRT system stations, 1,353 community bus stops and six pedestrian bridges. It also includes all civil, mechanical and electrical works.

The first phase of the BRT has been completed, according to MEED projects. Work on the second phase started recently. Local Saudi Consructioneers is implementing the $374m second phase of the project.

Riyadh’s BRT system will complement the $23bn Riyadh Metro, which is expected to be completed in 2019. Both schemes are part of the Riyadh Public Transport Project (RPTP).

In 2014, a joint venture of France’s RATP Dev and local Saudi Public Transport Company (Saptco) won the $1.77bn, 10-year contract to implement, operate and maintain Riyadh’s bus network, which will comprise of more than 100 bus lines and three depots.

In September last year, Yuksel Insaat announced having been awarded the $789m contract to build Qatar’s Al-Bustan North road project along with Spain’s Ferrovial Agroman. It is understood that the team failed to raise the required bid bond on time, leading to the cancellation of the contract.

The contract was retendered earlier this year and awarded to a joint venture of Lebanon’s Consolidated Contractors Company (CCC) and local Teyseer Contracting, which offered $774m for the contract.