05 June 2013
MUSCAT -- Oman is set to break new ground in the execution of road projects with the planned implementation of the Daba-Lima-Khasab carriageway in Musandam Governorate on a Design-Build-Operate (DBO) basis, for the first time in the Gulf region.
A prequalification tender for Section 2 of the proposed carriageway, covering a 65km stretch from Al Khalidya to Daba via mountainous coastal terrain, was floated by the Tender Board last week on behalf of the Ministry of Transport and Communications.
Around 40 companies, including some of the world's largest civil contractors, have so far collected documents in a reflection of the massive international interest generated by this project. With an estimated price tag in the vicinity of $1 billion in construction costs alone, the project is being billed as one of the most expensive and technically daunting road ventures undertaken in the country's modern history.
According to officials, the project is unique in many respects. For one, it will include as many as seven tunnels aggregating a total length of 7.320 kilometres. The largest is a 2.2-kilometre-long tunnel, the likes of which the country has never seen before.
Also envisaged en route are a total of 18 wadi and valley bridges extending a total distance of 3.790 kilometres. The longest of these bridges is 420 metres. In addition, two major interchange bridges will be built at key intersections along the route.
Perhaps, the most notable feature of the project is the Design, Build and Operate (DBO) strategy adopted by authorities to procure the project. This means that the selected contractor, in addition to designing and constructed the project, will also operate and maintain all assets linked to the venture for a 20-year period.
This unique concept, say experts, is being embraced for the first time in the implementation of road projects, not only in the Sultanate but the wider Gulf region as well. The DBO feature, they point out, is potentially a precursor to an era of build-operate-transfer (BOT) projects that will likely underpin major road development schemes in the future. According to officials, the DBO procurement strategy has been primarily chosen to address a number of issues that are unique to this project. Chief is the question of tunnels, which are novel to Oman's road network.
By adding an 'Operation & Maintenance (O&M)' component to the procurement strategy, the government hopes to attract qualified contractors with proven experience in the operation of road tunnels. It enjoins the successful bidder to provide experienced staff and know-how in the operation and maintenance of the road network, as well as a control centre planned as part of the project.
Additionally, the DBO approach will also ensure some flexibility in the design of the project to allow for minor alignment changes during the construction stage, in light of the difficult terrain and geological conditions of the project area.
Conceived as an all-weather carriageway, with street-lighting along its entire length, the Diba-Lima-Khasab road project will also facilitate tourist traffic to little-visited but enchanting attractions tucked away around the governorate.
Significantly, the project has elicited the interest of a number of major local and international firms.
The list includes Daewoo Engineering and Construction, CCC, STFA, Ghantoot Transport, Yuksal Construction, Makyol, Leighton Middle East, SEW Infra, GS Engineering, Strabag Oman, Kayson, TOTO, Sinohydro, MAPA GUNA, Hyundai Engineering & Construction, GKC Projects, Galfar, IsoluxCorsan, OHL Construction, Orascon, Hanjin Heavy Industries, Sambu Construction, Oman Shapoorji, Ozkar Construction, Impregilo, NUEC, Impresa, Wade Adams, Bechtel, VINCI, and Cyfield. Prequalification bids close on July 11.
Well-known engineering consultant COWI is advising the Ministry in the preliminary design and supervision of the project.
MUSCAT -- Oman is set to break new ground in the execution of road projects with the planned implementation of the Daba-Lima-Khasab carriageway in Musandam Governorate on a Design-Build-Operate (DBO) basis, for the first time in the Gulf region.
A prequalification tender for Section 2 of the proposed carriageway, covering a 65km stretch from Al Khalidya to Daba via mountainous coastal terrain, was floated by the Tender Board last week on behalf of the Ministry of Transport and Communications.
Around 40 companies, including some of the world's largest civil contractors, have so far collected documents in a reflection of the massive international interest generated by this project. With an estimated price tag in the vicinity of $1 billion in construction costs alone, the project is being billed as one of the most expensive and technically daunting road ventures undertaken in the country's modern history.
According to officials, the project is unique in many respects. For one, it will include as many as seven tunnels aggregating a total length of 7.320 kilometres. The largest is a 2.2-kilometre-long tunnel, the likes of which the country has never seen before.
Also envisaged en route are a total of 18 wadi and valley bridges extending a total distance of 3.790 kilometres. The longest of these bridges is 420 metres. In addition, two major interchange bridges will be built at key intersections along the route.
Perhaps, the most notable feature of the project is the Design, Build and Operate (DBO) strategy adopted by authorities to procure the project. This means that the selected contractor, in addition to designing and constructed the project, will also operate and maintain all assets linked to the venture for a 20-year period.
This unique concept, say experts, is being embraced for the first time in the implementation of road projects, not only in the Sultanate but the wider Gulf region as well. The DBO feature, they point out, is potentially a precursor to an era of build-operate-transfer (BOT) projects that will likely underpin major road development schemes in the future. According to officials, the DBO procurement strategy has been primarily chosen to address a number of issues that are unique to this project. Chief is the question of tunnels, which are novel to Oman's road network.
By adding an 'Operation & Maintenance (O&M)' component to the procurement strategy, the government hopes to attract qualified contractors with proven experience in the operation of road tunnels. It enjoins the successful bidder to provide experienced staff and know-how in the operation and maintenance of the road network, as well as a control centre planned as part of the project.
Additionally, the DBO approach will also ensure some flexibility in the design of the project to allow for minor alignment changes during the construction stage, in light of the difficult terrain and geological conditions of the project area.
Conceived as an all-weather carriageway, with street-lighting along its entire length, the Diba-Lima-Khasab road project will also facilitate tourist traffic to little-visited but enchanting attractions tucked away around the governorate.
Significantly, the project has elicited the interest of a number of major local and international firms.
The list includes Daewoo Engineering and Construction, CCC, STFA, Ghantoot Transport, Yuksal Construction, Makyol, Leighton Middle East, SEW Infra, GS Engineering, Strabag Oman, Kayson, TOTO, Sinohydro, MAPA GUNA, Hyundai Engineering & Construction, GKC Projects, Galfar, IsoluxCorsan, OHL Construction, Orascon, Hanjin Heavy Industries, Sambu Construction, Oman Shapoorji, Ozkar Construction, Impregilo, NUEC, Impresa, Wade Adams, Bechtel, VINCI, and Cyfield. Prequalification bids close on July 11.
Well-known engineering consultant COWI is advising the Ministry in the preliminary design and supervision of the project.
© Oman Daily Observer 2013