Saudi Arabia's Royal Commission for Riyadh City (RCRC) is expected to award construction contracts for its estimated $120 million Sport Boulevard project in Riyadh in the first quarter of 2021, a source aware of the details told Zawya Projects.

The Sports Boulevard extends for 135 kilometres (kms), across the city of Riyadh, connecting Wadi Hanifah valley in the West with Wadi Al Sulai valley in the East through Prince Muhammad Bin Salman Bin Abdulaziz Road, according to the RCRC website.

"Negotiations are under way for four packages related to the construction of Sports Boulevard project," the source told Zawya Projects.

He said the bid evaluation for zone 1A, 1B, 2A and 2B packages are currently ongoing.

"Saudi-based Al Bawani is in negotiation for the final award to construct Zone 1A and 1B packages. France's Freyssinet is negotiating for to construct Zone 2A and 2B. The contract award is expected in March 2021," the source said, adding that the commercial bids were submitted in early January 2021.

The project is slated for completion by the fourth quarter of 2023, he said.

Each package comprises of two contracts, a second source told Zawya Projects.

He continued: "Zone 1A covers a total section of 11.5 kilometres along the Wadi Hanifah, and includes cycle and pedestrian paths, and associated highway alterations while Zone 1B includes a section of 24km of paths along the Wadi Hanifa. Its tender includes new cycle and pedestrian paths, associated roadway changes and a park area."

"Zone 2A will feature a 2km promenade that will serve as the gateway to Prince Mohammad bin Salman Road [cycling track] while Zone 2B will consist of two-cycle stations, a linear park spanning 38m, pedestrian paths and a cycling bridge," the second source said.

Typsa Group and Hill International have been mandated as the design and infrastructure consultants, the first source said.

The Sports Boulevard project is one of four mega projects worth $23 billion launched in March 2019 to promote Riyadh's position among the world's top 100 most livable cities.

(Reporting by Senthil Palanisamy; Editing by Anoop Menon)

(anoop.menon@refinitiv.com)

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