Contractors are preparing to bid for the two packages of the Amman bus rapid transit (BRT) in Jordan.

The client, Greater Amman Municipality, expects to receive bids for the first contract, for the construction of the Sports City interchange, by 25 December.

It expects bids for the second package, for a terminal at Sweileh, on 8 January.

Earlier this year, the municipality awarded local Haddadin Engineering Company the $7m contract for the construction of the BRT line along the Sahafa tunnel on Queen Rania Street.

This phase of the BRT entails the installation of a 4km BRT route from the intersection of Mohammad Ali Jinnah and Princess Basma streets in Abdoun, and through Princess Basma and Prince Ali streets all the way to Ali Bin Abi Taleb Street in Ras al-Ain.

The French Development Agency (AFD) is funding the civil works packages of the BRT scheme, which is estimated to cost $170m.

Future tenders for the scheme include the transaction advisory role for the procurement of the rolling stock and operation and maintenance (O&M) package.

MEED earlier reported that the municipality expects the potential rolling stock contractor to invest in the scheme.

The BRT is expected to help decongest road traffic and introduce a more efficient public transport system in Amman.