K&A submits highways design studies

24 February 2006

Lebanon's Khatib & Alami (K&A) has submitted design studies to national roads agency Autoroutes du Maroc (ADM) for three major highway projects in the kingdom worth a total of $500 million:

Final detailed designs for the estimated $135 million, 61-kilometre Settat-Skhour Rehamna section of the Settat-Marrakech highway were submitted at the end of December and have been approved by ADM. In addition to the dual-carriageway, the project covers 13 overpasses, four underpasses and pedestrian passages.

ADM in early January approved three basic design solutions submitted by K&A in 2005 for the mountain section of the estimated MD 6,000 million ($657 million), 320-kilometre Fez-Taza highway project. K&A originally submitted six designs on the 39-kilometre Oued Amlil-Taza section of the dual carriageway, which is expected to cost $215 million. Under the design programme, K&A will also carry out preliminary geometry for the three preferred designs, and provide detailed designs for the highway and bridges, overpasses, underpasses and pedestrian passages. In addition, the company will carry out the design of signs, markings and utilities. Design completion is due by the end of 2007.

K&A was due to submit on 16 February final design studies on the estimated $112 million, 51-kilometre RN8 highway between Marrakech and the coastal town of Essaouira. The detailed designs cover 34 overpasses and underpasses, two viaducts and pedestrian passages. K&A began submitting revised designs to ADM in early January, following the original delivery of detailed designs in August.

K&A will begin in February the next design phase, which calls for blueprints for utilities including water supply, electricity, waste and telecommunications, which will take one month, and road signs and markings, which will take a further two months. The highway's construction will be divided into two main contracts, one covering road building and the other the provision of two main bridges. Preparatory construction work is under way and the project is due for completion in 2009.

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