Oman’ s Transport and Communications Ministry has awarded the local/Austrian Strabag an OR27.6m ($71.7m) second package of infrastructure works on its Sohar airport project.

Strabag beat six other bidders to win the infrastructure deal at the new airport, which is located 10 kilometres northwest of Sohar city.

The contract covers the construction of a 4,000-metre-long runway with turning loops at the end. It also involves the construction of a full length taxiway, a terminal building and cargo aprons along with the installation of navigation aids, fuel and fire fighting systems.

Strabag is also won the first package of the airport project, which it was awarded in May 2009. The OR37.5m contract includes site preparation works and the construction of access roads.

Egypt’s Hamza Associates is the design consultant for the project. On completion, Sohar airport will have a capacity of 500,000 passengers a year.

Oman’s Transport & Communications Ministry is also planning a number of other airport projects in the country, including ones at Duqm, Salalah and the capital Muscat. The project at Muscat is the largest of all and involves building a new terminal capable of handling 48 million passengers each year (MEED 11:1:10).