US-based Parsons Brinckerhoff (PB) has been appointed consultant for the purple line on the Dubai Metro, which will provide an express link between Dubai International Airport and Dubai World Central, the site of the Jebel Ali airport currently being built.

The Roads & Transport Authority (RTA) scheme will see the construction of a 49-kilometre-long line with eight stations, of which three will offer airport check-in services. The line will cross the creek and proceed along the Al-Khail road corridor to Jebel Ali.

The exact route alignment will be determined by PB during the feasibility study stage. The firm's 80-month contract will also take in basic designs, preparation of the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) documents and construction supervision. The award of the EPC package is set for the fourth quarter of next year.

The newly-appointed consultant will be assisted on the contract by three subconsultants: the UK's RMJM (architecture), Germany's BR Consulting (baggage handling), and Hong Kong's AVSECO (airport security).

Two further Dubai metro lines are under construction. The red line, running 52 kilometres from Rashidiya to Jebel Ali, is due to be completed by September 2009. This will be followed six months later by the green line, linking Al-Nahda street and Dubai Healthcare City.