Metro Jeddah Company has invited contractors to bid by 26 July for the estimated $1bn Obhur creek crossing scheme.

Contractors submitted prequalification for the main design and build contract for the bridge project earlier this year and it is understood that at least eight groups have prequalified. The prequalifiers include:

• OHL (Spain) / Consolidated Contractors Company (CCC) (Athens-based) / IHI (Japan)
• STFA (Turkey) / Hochtief (Germany) / Almabani General Contractors(local)
• Hyundai Engineering & Construction (South Korea) / Al-Ayuni (local)
• GS Engineering (South Korea) / Strabag (Austria) / Al-Rashid Trading & Contacting Company (RTCC) (local) 
• Saudi Binladin Group (SBG) (local) / Huta Marine (local) / Eiffage (France)
• Samsung C+T (South Korea) / Al-Mobty (local) / Saipem (Italy)
• Yapi Merkezi (Turkey) / Bilfinger (Germany) / Saudi Freyssinet (local)
• Salini Impregilo (Italy) / Cimolai (Italy)

The crossing will be 380 metres long and 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.

Metro Jeddah Company is also planning to tender construction contracts on the upcoming Jeddah metro network on 2016. The urban rail scheme 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 84km and is split into two parts, while the Blue Line is 36km and the Green Line 32km.

In March this year, the UK’s Foster+Partners was awarded a $80m contract for Jeddah metro system. Under this contract, the firm will be responsible for the designing of all metro stations, buildings, trains and buses for the $12bn metro project.

The firm also signed an agreement with the governor of Mecca for the architectural city-wide transportation plan for Jeddah.

The contract involved the establishment of a city network plan that integrates metro, ferry and bus transportation. Foster+Partners plans on ensuring that at least 50 per cent of Jeddah’s residents are 10 minutes’ walk from a transport link, according to a statement released by the firm.

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.