Abu Dhabi General Services Company (Musanada) said work was progressing well on the Dh5.3-billion ($1.44 billion) Mafraq-Ghuwaifat Road project and was on track for completion by the middle of next year.

The company said it has completed 72 per cent of the Mafraq-Ghuwaifat Road project.

The scope of work includes construction of 16 new interchanges, improvement work to the existing interchanges at Mafraq, Hameem, Abu Al Abyad and Madinat Zayed interchange, as well as huge improvements on the existing interchanges extending over a total length of 246 km from Mafraq to the international borders with Saudi Arabia in Ghuwaifat and the industrial hub in Ruwais.

As per the project plan, the delivery of Phase One of the project will be during this year, while the project is to be completed by mid-2017, said a statement from Musanada.

Hamdan Ahmed Al Mazrouei, the acting road director at Musanada, said the project teams are working 24/7 to deliver work as per the project plan in consideration of the road significance in linking the Western Region cities and facilitating the commercial transport on the international road.

"The project includes six packages, with a manpower of 8,500 consultants, engineers, and workers," he stated.

“The project encompasses construction of new lanes in both directions, from two to four lanes in each direction along 182 km extending from Mafraq until Baynounah Forest Area, and from two lanes to three lanes in each direction along 64 km extending from Baraka until Ghuwaifat,” added Al Mazrouei.

"Furthermore, the project encompasses construction of lay-by parking for road users. Work is in progress to execute a shoulder on the right side for both directions for emergencies," he noted.

"This is as well as construction of underpass for camels in areas of proximity to Silaa and Ghuwaifat, which will serve camel owners in areas adjacent to the road and the camel race track close to Silaa," he added.

Faisal Al Suwaidi, the director of Main Roads Division in the Department of Municipal Affairs and Transport, said: "In accordance with its plan to maintain safety of road users, proportional to the urban development and population and economic growth in the Western Region, the department delivers strategic projects contribute to the environmental sustainability of Abu Dhabi as well as the traffic safety."

“The project completion rate could not have been achieved without the continuous and constructive cooperation of all strategic stakeholders,” he added.

As part of Musanada’s commitment towards the standards of Green Sustainability, the Mafraq-Ghuwaifat Road Project will be supplied with LED (light emitting diode) lighting, which will play part in reducing the power consumption to 60 per cent, he added.-TradeArabia News Service