Kuwait’s Public Works Ministry has invited firms to bid by 14 February for a consultancy contract to improve the roads connecting Sabah al-Ahmad and Khiran in Kuwait City.

The prequalified firms are Associated Consulting Engineers and Dar al-Handasah Consultants (Shair & Partners), both of Lebanon, the Netherlands-based Grontmij, UK-based Halcrow, and the local office of Terra Tech.

The ministry plans various road improvement schemes. The largest project it has tendered so far is the construction deal to upgrade Jahra road west of Kuwait City.

The winning bidder will build a 7.2-kilometre-long viaduct between Jahra Gate and the UN roundabout, as well as associated infrastructure. It will connect to Kuwait University, several hospital buildings, the defence ministry, Shuwaikh Port and various other planned developments.

The local Kuwait Arab Contractors with Egypt-based Arab Contractors (Osman Ahmed Osman & Company) is the low bidder with a price of KD265m ($925m). The local/US team of Louis Berger International and Pan Arab Consulting Engineers (Pace) is the design consultant (MEED 13:9:09).