Yemen’s Public Works and Highways Ministry is inviting companies to bid by 13 February for the upgrade of three roads in the country.

The roads form part of the integrated urban development project (IUDP) in Taiz. The city of Taiz is located in the southwest corner of Yemen.

The International Development Association, part of the Washington-based World Bank, has agreed to give the Yemeni government a $22m loan to help fund the project. The IUDP is aimed at improving access to Taiz. It will upgrade the local infrastructure in the smaller towns of Madinat al-Nour, Al-Maftash, Al-Haraziya and Al-Arous. This will consist of upgrading roads and footpaths and improving the water supply sewerage networks.

In October 2010, the ministry expected to invites companies to bid for the development of eight rural roads (MEED 15:7:10).

The contract for the road projects will be split between two packages, with building work taking place in six different governorates of Yemen. This would be part of Yemen’s Second Rural Access project.