Dubai's Road & Transport Authority (RTA) has reissued tender documents for the construction of interchange 5.5 and has issued for bid the first package on its parallel roads scheme. Both schemes are aimed at alleviating congestion on Sheikh Zayed road.

The RTA has invited companies to bid by 18 June for the retendered interchange 5.5 contract. The project covers the construction of a major new interchange on Sheikh Zayed road between interchange 5 and the Gardens/Ibn Battuta mall flyover.

In the original tender, which closed in April, the local/UK Dutco Balfour Beatty was the low bidder at AED 564 million ($153 million). The local/Cypriot National Wheel J&P was the only other bidder with an offer of AED 572 million ($155 million MEED 21:4:06).

The 780-day contract involves the construction of a new interchange with at least 10 bridge structures, five of which will cross the highway. Once complete, the interchange will serve Jumeirah Lake Towers (JLT), Jumeirah Islands and the southwestern end of Dubai Marina, all large-scale residential and commercial developments under construction in the area. De Leuw Cather International (DCI), part of the US' Parsons International, is the consultant.

The RTA also has invited companies to bid by late June for the first component of its parallel roads scheme. The package covers the modification and improvement of two north-south corridors running between Sheikh Zayed road and Al-Khail road. The two 15-18 kilometre roads will pass through the Al-Barsha residential area and Al-Quoz industrial and residential areas. The roads will start at road D611 road close to interchange 4.5 and the Greens running north to Muscat road.

The roads will have a minimum of three lanes in each direction and are intersected by a series of east-west routes. The contract also includes two grade-separated junctions and 25 junctions. DCI is the consultant (MEED 28:4:06).