MUSCAT -- The Wilayat of Barka in Al Batinah Governorate is all set to wear an entirely new look, thanks to a large number of huge infrastructure projects currently under way.
Visit Barka these days and you will see huge construction works are going on in every nook and corner of this city. The city is in for a complete makeover. Massive road projects, including flyovers and important bridges, under way currently are set to give an entirely new look to Barka.
Some of the bridges are unique and massive and will serve very useful role in not only facilitating traffic but also in trade and commerce and hence economic expansion.
Also under construction are massive lengths of rail tunnels, viaducts (bridge spanning a wide valley and consisting of a set of arches supported by piers or towers), rail bridges and wadi bridges as part of the national railway project.
Around 17 km of viaducts are part of the Barka projects, in addition to 20 km of rail bridges and 15 km of wadi bridges envisioned elsewhere along the length of the network.
Early this year, the Tender Board approved RO 138.9 million ($359.7 million) worth projects as part of the 45-km Al Batinah South Expressway package. It includes converting the existing Barka roundabout to multilevel crossroads, while a three lane bridge on each side of Muscat/Sohar road to relieve traffic movement. About 7-km of road is being doubled between the expressway and Barka roundabout.
The project also includes several multilevel crossroads, bridges and culverts to allow travel on the expressway during different weather conditions. Experts say Barka bridge will be opened next month or in October for traffic movement.
The award of the first package of the 45-km-long Al Batinah Expressway is a qualitative leap in the strategy to build road projects, considering that this road is a vital strategic road.
After completion the expressway will have four lanes in each direction, starting from the end of Muscat Expressway at the Wilayat of Barka spanning up to Khatmat Melahah in the Wilayat of Shinas.
The road is a continuation of the Muscat Expressway and part of the Eighth Five-Year Plan (2011-2015). Experts hope completion of the expressway will support the current Al Batinah Dual carriageway. It will connect Oman with neighbouring countries, facilitating movement of traffic among the regions of the south and north Al Batinah governorates.
Barka is a very scenic coastal town in Batinah, which is dotted with thousands of beautiful palm trees. It holds out great potential for tourism, commerce and trade.
The town is emerging as a tourist resort. There are two major resorts in Barka, Al Sawadi resort and Al Nahda resort.
Al Sawadi is one of the best places for a family outing. Al Sawadi Beach Resort is frequented by tourists because it is a great place for scuba diving. Moreover, boat excursions are very popular with all tourists here because of the great scenic sights along the way.
© Oman Daily Observer 2013
