A joint venture (JV) between Oman United Engineering Services (OUES) and Portugal’s Sociedade de Construções Soares da Costa has won a contract to build a road linking the Muscat Expressway with the new Muscat International Airport.

The $62m link road is expected to improve road networks across the capital city, ease traffic congestion and enhance connectivity.

Officials said the project will not only enhance connectivity between the Expressway and the city’s main carriageway, but also open access to real estate for commercial development.

The project will build at least two major interchanges linking the Expressway and the new airport, plus three bridges and a grade signalised intersection.

The first interchange is proposed to come up on Al Jamaa Al Akbar Street and the second one around the Ghala Industrial Area road, north of the Al Ansab interchange on the Muscat Expressway.

The project has a 22-month timeframe for completion. The Muscat municipality has selected Parsons Oman, an engineering consultant, to supervise the project.

Soares da Costa, a subsidiary of Grupo Soares da Costa is the largest player in Portugal’s civil construction and public works sector, and owns a 70% stake in the JV.