Local contractor Saudi Oger is set to finish the first phase of construction on Riyadh’s King Abdullah Road scheme by the end of 2010. The contractor was awarded the 36-month construction contract in June 2007 (MEED 27:6:09).

The estimated SR698m ($186m) project includes widening the existing road to three lanes in each direction and featuring a 10-metre corridor along the central reservation for a future rail system.

Saudi Oger’s portion of the King Abdullah Road project also includes three 185-metre tunnels and a 700-metre closed tunnel. The first phase included public utilities and infrastructure including water, electricity, sewage and rainwater drainage systems.

According to an official from local client Arriyadh Development Authority, King Abdullah Road is being lined with greenery to reduce roadside pollution and carbon emissions from the highly trafficked section of road.

King Abdullah Road aims to increase capacity on the highway from 190,000 vehicles to 520,000. The road will also incorporate state-of-the-art traffic management systems to control the surplus of vehicles.

Germany’s Albert Speer & Partner is the lead consultant with the local Saudi Consulting Services serving as the local consultant. Two other German companies are involved in the project as well. BWP is the landscape consultant while Dorsch Consult is serving as the electrical consultant.