Muscat: The Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology is diligently working to transform the transport sector into a significant contributor to both economic and tourism development.
The General Secretariat of the Tender Board has recently announced the award of a contract for the dualization of the Adam-Thumrait Road, encompassing the third, fourth, and fifth sections, at a total cost of OMR278,452,322.
Eng. Yousef bin Abdullah Al-Mujaini, the Director General of Roads and Land Transport within the Ministry, has confirmed that the commencement of the dualization project for the third section of the Adam-Thumrait Road is scheduled for the beginning of 2025. Following the completion of contractual procedures, the project is expected to be implemented over a period of 36 months, with an additional 90 days allocated for preparatory work.
He emphasized that the completion of the dualization of the Adam-Thumrait Road is among the most extensive projects undertaken by the Ministry, highlighting its potential to significantly enhance logistics, economic, and tourism sectors.
Al-Mujaini further elaborated on the scope of the project, stating that the third section of the Adam-Thumrait Road, which spans from the Wilayat of Haima to Maqshin, is 132.5 kilometers long. This section will feature the construction of safe entrances and exits, 16 lanes for traffic, one bridge, service roads, two truck weigh stations, four rest areas, 21 waiting areas, eight emergency central openings, 22 parking lots, 115 reinforced concrete box culverts for water drainage, and 88 pipe drainage channels to manage water flow. Additionally, the project will include the construction of central dams and their protective works.
He also mentioned that the project will involve the reconstruction of the existing road in the valley sites, the removal of certain sections of the current road, the implementation of protective works and channels, and the creation of new multi-cell square drainage channels to address flood areas.
The fourth section of the Adam-Thumrait Road, which will be dualized, starts from the Wilayat of Maqshin, traverses through Qatabit, and extends to Duka, covering a distance of 135 kilometers. This section will see the construction of safe entrances and exits, 14 lanes for traffic, the development of 25 parking lots, three rest areas, eight central emergency openings, and the construction of about 241 reinforced concrete box culverts for water drainage, 95 water drainage channels from pipes, central dams, and dam protection works.
In relation to the fifth segment of the Adam-Thumrait road dualization project, Engineer Yousef Al-Majini elucidated that it commences at "Dokah" and concludes within the Wilayat of Thumrait, spanning a distance of over 132 kilometers. This segment is designed to incorporate the construction of secure entrances and exits, accommodating up to 20 lanes for traffic, alongside the development of 16 side parking areas, a truck weighing station, five rest zones, and eight central emergency exits. Furthermore, approximately 101 square box culverts, constructed from reinforced concrete, will facilitate the transverse drainage of water, while 110 drainage channels will manage the central drainage. Additionally, the project includes the construction of central dams and dam protection measures.
Concerning the roads of Jebel Shams, it was revealed that a new road will be established with a width of 3.5 meters for each lane, complemented by a 0.5-meter outer shoulder from the terminus of the existing asphalt road at Jebel Shams to Jebel Sarat, spanning a length of approximately 26 kilometers. This project also encompasses the development of a 6-kilometer link connecting the Dar Al-Suda area to Dar Al-Aqour, which will be integrated into the road leading to the resorts in Jebel Shams.
The Director General of Roads and Land Transport at the Ministry of Transport, Communications, and Information Technology has announced that the Jebel Shams Road will serve as a tourist route, linking residential complexes situated around the Sarat and Shams Mountains with the South Al Batinah and Al Dhahirah Governorates. The project is scheduled to commence at the start of the next year and is expected to be completed within a period of 24 months.
