Bahrain advances $180.7m King Faisal Highway upgrade

Bahrain has moved forward with procurement for the major upgrade of King Faisal Highway after securing $180.72m of Islamic Development Bank financing for the transport programme.

The project covers the highway between Al Farooq Interchange and Al Fateh Interchange and includes extensive widening, grade-separated junctions, utilities work and urban improvements. The Islamic Development Bank issued a General Procurement Notice for the programme on 8 September.

Civil works include 32 lane-kilometres of road widening with new asphalt, kerbs, street lighting, signage and vehicle-restraint systems. Major structures include a four-lane underpass at Al Fardah Avenue, two box underpasses at Al Fateh Highway and a two-lane U-turn flyover at Al Farooq Interchange.

The scope also incorporates diversion and protection of water, electricity, telecommunications and drainage networks, together with landscaping, median treatments and pedestrian areas. Elements of the design will accommodate future light-rail bridge piers.

Importantly for international contractors, procurement financed by IsDB will be conducted under the bank’s procurement rules and will be open to eligible bidders. Specific contracts are expected to be advertised using international competitive bidding procedures.

The programme should create opportunities for road and bridge contractors, utilities specialists, engineering consultants, traffic-system suppliers, lighting companies and construction-material suppliers as individual procurement packages progress.

Sources: Islamic Development Bank; Bahrain Ministry of Works.