Business & Finance Club Magazine - Transportation - Oman: Eng. AbuBakr bin Salim al Dheeb, Director General of Road and Land Transport in the Dhofar Governorate said that the Government attaches great significance to transport and road projects which link various parts of the Sultanate. Roads construction, levelling, paving and lighting are ongoing in various parts of the Sultanate, he added.

In a statement, Eng. Al Dheeb pointed out that the total cost of the 75 km long Salalah-Thumrait dual carriage way stood at RO.47.752 million and expected to be completed in February 2011.

'The road project includes construction of five terrestrial tunnels for passage of vehicles at the main crossings, 11 tunnels for animal passage whereas another tunnel is for pedestrians. The project also includes construction of a roundabout at Marmoul road crossing besides a 10 km long service road,' he furthered.

'Works will also include improving, paving and lighting the dual carriage way at 'Al Yasmin 1' hill. The 7.5 meter wide road starts at Northern Thumrait and ends up to 'Hamrair Pass. It has a 2.5 meter wide exterior shoulder and a 1.5 meter wide interior shoulder, in addition, to the lighting of the dual carriage way, relevant traffic safety facilities, road side fencing and water discharge facilities,' he noted.

Eng. Al Dheeb also spoke about the 85 km long and 7 meter wide Hasik-Al Shuwaimiyah road currently under construction, which he said starts from the Niyabat of Hasik in the Wilayat of Sadah and ends up in the Niyabat of Al Shuwaimiyah in the Wilayat of Shaleem and Al Halaniyat Islands. The total cost of the project stood at RO.77 million and expected to be completed in March 2011.

'Paving the 14 km long 'Tiwi Attair-Hasheer' road in the Wilayat of Mirbat is also underway. The totals cost of the road's construction stood at RO.7.5 million. The works will include construction of a 6 meter cross section and asphalted shoulders. The road will be opened before the start of Khareef Season this year. The mountainous roads are important in terms of serving citizens and easing traffic,' he explained

He also pointed to the rehabilitation of 'Arjut-Sarfait' road which links the Wilayat of Dhalkut to Salalah. The works include rehabilitation of 20 km of the road at a total cost of RO.23 million. The road is expected to be completed in February 2012.  The first part of the road extends from Arjut area and ends up to 'Hafouf-Dhalkut' road crossing. Works include expanding the road's sector, constructing a  concrete fencing, as well as, changing some tracks, he added.

'The second  road sector starts after 'Hamout' area and ends up to the Sultanate's border post with the Yemeni Republic at Sarfait. A new 7 meter wide parallel asphalted road will be constructed up to the border post. It includes concrete fenders, water discharge facilities, traffic safety facilities and terrestrial signs, he said.

'Among the mountainous roads, works also include construction of 'Hajif-Jahnin-Asir' road which began on July 15th 2009. It's cost stood at RO.7.5 million. The 27 km long road starts from the Niyabat of Hajif and ends at Salalah rounded-road crossing. The project includes works at 'Asir' hill, designing and constructing 6 km long and 7 meter wide sub-roads in addition to asphalted shoulders. The road is due to be completed in January 2011,' he furthered.