Metro Jeddah Company has invited companies to attend an industry briefing day in Jeddah on 30 March.

The company will present the Jeddah public transport masterplan with details of the programme, procurement and packaging strategy and the upcoming tender process.

In May 2014, Metro Jeddah Company awarded US-based Aecom a $28m contract to provide pre-programme management consultancy services for the Jeddah Public Transport Project, at the heart of which is the proposed Jeddah Metro. Under its 18-month contract, Aecom will provide staff to support the preliminary planning and design work for various phases of the metro project.

The Jeddah metro is planned to have three major lines: Orange; Blue; and Green. The total length of the network is planned to be 152 kilometres with 92 stations. The Orange Line will be 84 kilometres and is split into two parts, while the Blue Line is 36km and the Green Line 32km.

Another major project planned is the construction of the estimated $1bn Obhur creek crossing scheme. Contractors submitted prequalification for the main design and build contract for the bridge project earlier this year.

The construction work for the bridge is expected to be split into five packages, with the main package covering the design and build on a concrete arch bridge. The crossing will be 380 metres long and will be 74.5 metres wide. It will have eight lanes for road traffic, a single railway line and two pedestian walkways.

The preliminary design was prepared by US-based consultant Figg. Aecom has provided programme management services on the project.