A team of SSH Bahrain and the UK’s Hyder has been awarded a contract for the design of a road and bridges as part of the widening and upgrading of the Sheikh Jaber al-Ahmed al-Sabah highway in Bahrain.

The project aims to reduce traffic congestion and delays during peak hours by upgrading the current highway. The highway is part of the strategic North-South link, connecting Manama, the Sitra industrial area, the Aluminium Bahrain (Alba) plant and the Southern Governorate. It will also form part of the Future International Transportation Corridor with the possible Bahrain-Qatar causeway.

The scheme is divided into three phases. Phase one consists of comprehensive traffic and transportation studies for widening and upgrading the highway to an uninterrupted motorway. Phase two includes preliminary and detailed design for the four-lane dual carriageway, pedestrian and vehicular bridges, tunnels and underpasses, service roads, and slip lanes. Phase three, which has yet to be awarded, is for construction implementation and supervision services.

The Ministry of Works Municipalities & Urban Planning is the client for the project, which is being developed with financing from the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development.

SSH Bahrain is the local affiliate of Kuwait’s SSH. In March, it was appointed to design the Ras al-Barr resort by PK Development Company. Located on several islands of reclaimed land, the hotel will offer a range of waterfront housing options, themed hotels, retail and souqs, and public waterfront areas, together with community facilities, schools, parklands, and sport facilities.

PK Development Company is a joint venture of Kuwait Finance House and private investors.