Riyadh LR plans roll on, as traffic masterplan nears

18 August 2006
Arriyadh Development Authority (ADA) is aiming to issue tender documents to consultants by year-end on its proposed $2,000 million Riyadh light railway (LR) project. A group comprising Semaly of France and Beirut-based Dar al-Handasah (Shair & Partners) completed the 30 per cent preliminary engineering design contract in July (MEED 25:4:06).

According to sources close to the project, ADA has opted to carry out the scheme on a design and build basis. However, financing remains the major stumbling block. 'The project has still not been approved by the relevant authorities,' says an ADA source. 'We hope to launch a competition to complete the designs and to prepare tender documents later this year, with a view to design work beginning in 2007.'

The proposed scheme would include two lines. The first one would run about 38 kilometres linking the north and south of the city, while the second would run along King Abdullah street and extend 13 kilometres from the east to the west of the capital. Under its original schedule, ADA plans to complete the first stage of the LR by 2013.

ADA is also expected to unveil by the end of September details of its 20-year masterplan to resolve traffic congestion in the city. Based on a population of between 7 million-10 million, Canada's IBI Group is working on the public transport masterplan, while Germany's Dornier Consulting is finalising the traffic management masterplan.

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