Dubai’s Roads & Transport Authority (RTA) has confirmed it will hold an industry briefing on 7 May for firms interested in working on the new metro link connecting to the Dubai Expo 2020 site.

In mid-April, the RTA invited firms to express interest by 30 April for the project, which is now known as Route 2020.

The project is the largest infrastructure scheme that will be built for the Expo. It involves constructing a 15-kilometre-long line branching off the existing Red Line at the Nakheel Harbour & Tower station close between the Ibn Battuta Mall and Jumeirah Lake Towers stations.

About 11km of the line will be elevated, with five elevated stations and two underground stations. According to the RTA, the work involves:

• Civil works including detailed design, architecture, and mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP) works, together with earthworks, viaducts, bored tunnel and stations
• Railway systems
• Rolling stock supply

In January, MEED reported that the RTA is preparing to tender the contract in July after expressions of interest (EoIs) are sought from contractors. Suppliers and contractors have already been in contact with the RTA.

In July 2014, the RTA awarded a joint venture of the US’ Parsons International and France’s Systra the contract to complete the preliminary engineering for the new metro line. Work on the study began in August.