Oman has invited consultants to place bids for the upgrade of the Batinah Highway into a ‘world-class’ carriageway to enhance road safety.

The consultant will undertake detailed design work for the highway, which links Muscat with Dubai in the United Arab Emirates.

Oman’s Ministry has plans to replace existing open medians by building 24 grade-separated junctions at key points along the highway, which will take the shape of either interchanges or flyovers.

The grade-separated junctions will be built at 24 locations along a 250km route extending from Bait al Barakah roundabout to Khatmat Malaha roundabout, and existing roundabouts at Barka and Khabourah will be upgraded to make way for major interchanges.

About 20 engineering consultancy firms including Parsons, Dar al Handasah, Bonifica, National Engineering Office, Conser, and Cowi & Partners have expressed interest in the project.

The successful bidder will conduct a comprehensive study of traffic movements to suggest a viable, weather traffic planning solution for each of the open medians and roundabouts.

Work on the project will be expedited through the appointment of up to three contractors for work on different stretches of the carriageway, while the entire project is set to take 18 months to complete, according to the Oman Daily Observer.