Kuwait’s Public Works Ministry has received 22 bids from a total of 10 contracting companies for three major road projects. The total budget of the schemes is estimated in excess of KD217m ($715m) for 93 kilometres of new or improved roads.

Mushrif Trading & Contracting submitted the lowest bids for two projects while Mohammed Abdulmohsin al-Kharafi (MAK) submitted the lowest bid for the third project. The bids were received on 24 May with the award of winners expected soon.

The first project is for the rehabilitation of road 306, which connects the Al-Shuaiba Industrial region with Al-Wafra to the south. With an estimated budget of $218m, the road length totals 40km and will feature nine interchanges.

The contracting companies who submitted bids for this project are understood to include:

• Mushrif ($203.4m)
• Kuwait Company for Process Plant Construction & Contracting (KCPC) ($214m)
• Mohammed Abdulmohsin Al-Kharafi (MAK) ($216m)
• Alghanim 1 ($218m)
• Arab Contractors ($227m)
• Green Line ($230m)
• Canar ($231m)
• Afcons ($250m)
• Combined Group Contracting Company (CGC) ($253m)
• Ahmadiah Contracting & Trading Company ($322m)

The second contract calls for the construction of a 40km road inclusive of bridges at nine interchanges, rainwater sewage and sanitary and other services to link Mina Abdulla City and Wafra. The estimated budget for the project is $310m. Only three companies submitted bids for this project:

• Mushrif ($274m)
• Alghanim 1 ($289m)
• Arab Contractors ($302m)

With a budget estimated at $188m, the third project has attracted eight bidders although only seven will be evaluated due to KCPC’s disqualification. The project entails the construction of 53km of road, two interchanges and all associated works. The bidders are:

• MAK ($151m)
• Mushrif ($159m)
• Alghanim 1 ($160m)
• CGC ($165)
• Arab Contractors ($180m)
• Canar ($203m)
• Afcons ($216m)

Like most of its GCC peers, Kuwait is focusing on improving its road infrastructure not merely to address traffic congestion in the key city, but to enable transportation of both people and freight to and from its industrial cities and ports.