15 February 2009
MUSCAT -- Construction work will commence shortly on a major carriageway in Salalah that will help significantly strengthen road communications in this rapidly developing port city. The 32-kilometre Salalah Bypass road project will span the length of Salalah City as it runs from Raysut in the east towards Ayn Razat in the west. Designed and built to international standards, the all-weather dual carriageway will serve as a convenient alternative to the congestion-prone Salalah-Raysut carriageway, which is presently the main artery that links the city with the vital Salalah-Thamrait-Nizwa highway system.
Also underscoring its significance to Salalah's ongoing development, implementation of the bypass project is being overseen on a fast-track basis by the Supreme Committee for Town Planning, an organ of the Ministry of National Economy. A contract for the execution of the RO 19.5 million project was awarded recently to the local construction firm, Oman Building & Contracting Company. The well-known Omani engineering consultancy, National Engineering Office (NEO), is the design consultant for the project.
The new carriageway starts from near Salalah's burgeoning port and industrial hub at Raysut. Extending south towards the Salalah jabals for about three kilometres, it then veers west and runs parallel to the Raysut-Salalah road all the way to the Itteen roundabout. An existing 10-kilometre single carriageway that extends from Itteen roundabout to A'Saadah roundabout, will be upgraded to a dual carriageway as part of the bypass project. Beyond A'Saadah roundabout, the new blacktop will run for a further distance of 7 km and link up with the road that connects the Salalah-Taqah carriageway with the popular tourist hotspot of Ayn Razat.
According to officials, the four-lane bypass project has important benefits for the smooth flow of traffic through Salalah city and into the Salalah-Thamrait-Nizwa highway system. Foremost is its role in catering to heavy vehicles that ply in and out of the Raysut Industrial Estate, as well as the adjoining Port of Salalah and Salalah Free Zone. Large volumes of freight traffic are expected to be generated as capacity expansions and new industrial investments at the port, free zone and industrial estate come on stream in the coming years. Thus, when operational in 2011, the bypass will handle all heavy freight in and out of the port and industrial zone at Raysut, thereby easing traffic along the existing Raysut-Salalah road.
Additionally, the bypass will also serve as a convenient alternative route for traffic in the event of any flooding along the Raysut-Salalah road. Waterlogging is a frequent occurrence along the latter route, particularly in the aftermath of a storm event or heavy downpour. Furthermore, the bypass's alignment behind Salalah International Airport will allow for passenger and freight traffic in and out of the airport to flow directly into the Salalah-Thamrait-Nizwa highway system.
Under a separate contract, a new blacktop will be constructed behind the airport to link up with the Salalah bypass between Itteen roundabout and A'Saadah roundabout. Fully featured with street-lighting along the 32-kilometre stretch, the Salalah Bypass road will be completed within 18 months of the commencement of construction work.
MUSCAT -- Construction work will commence shortly on a major carriageway in Salalah that will help significantly strengthen road communications in this rapidly developing port city. The 32-kilometre Salalah Bypass road project will span the length of Salalah City as it runs from Raysut in the east towards Ayn Razat in the west. Designed and built to international standards, the all-weather dual carriageway will serve as a convenient alternative to the congestion-prone Salalah-Raysut carriageway, which is presently the main artery that links the city with the vital Salalah-Thamrait-Nizwa highway system.
Also underscoring its significance to Salalah's ongoing development, implementation of the bypass project is being overseen on a fast-track basis by the Supreme Committee for Town Planning, an organ of the Ministry of National Economy. A contract for the execution of the RO 19.5 million project was awarded recently to the local construction firm, Oman Building & Contracting Company. The well-known Omani engineering consultancy, National Engineering Office (NEO), is the design consultant for the project.
The new carriageway starts from near Salalah's burgeoning port and industrial hub at Raysut. Extending south towards the Salalah jabals for about three kilometres, it then veers west and runs parallel to the Raysut-Salalah road all the way to the Itteen roundabout. An existing 10-kilometre single carriageway that extends from Itteen roundabout to A'Saadah roundabout, will be upgraded to a dual carriageway as part of the bypass project. Beyond A'Saadah roundabout, the new blacktop will run for a further distance of 7 km and link up with the road that connects the Salalah-Taqah carriageway with the popular tourist hotspot of Ayn Razat.
According to officials, the four-lane bypass project has important benefits for the smooth flow of traffic through Salalah city and into the Salalah-Thamrait-Nizwa highway system. Foremost is its role in catering to heavy vehicles that ply in and out of the Raysut Industrial Estate, as well as the adjoining Port of Salalah and Salalah Free Zone. Large volumes of freight traffic are expected to be generated as capacity expansions and new industrial investments at the port, free zone and industrial estate come on stream in the coming years. Thus, when operational in 2011, the bypass will handle all heavy freight in and out of the port and industrial zone at Raysut, thereby easing traffic along the existing Raysut-Salalah road.
Additionally, the bypass will also serve as a convenient alternative route for traffic in the event of any flooding along the Raysut-Salalah road. Waterlogging is a frequent occurrence along the latter route, particularly in the aftermath of a storm event or heavy downpour. Furthermore, the bypass's alignment behind Salalah International Airport will allow for passenger and freight traffic in and out of the airport to flow directly into the Salalah-Thamrait-Nizwa highway system.
Under a separate contract, a new blacktop will be constructed behind the airport to link up with the Salalah bypass between Itteen roundabout and A'Saadah roundabout. Fully featured with street-lighting along the 32-kilometre stretch, the Salalah Bypass road will be completed within 18 months of the commencement of construction work.
By Conrad Prabhu
© Oman Daily Observer 2009
