Dubai’s RTA Awards Construction Supervision Contract For Water Canal Project

Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has awarded a construction supervision contract for the Dhs2 billion Dubai Water Canal project to a joint venture between Parsons and Halcrow.

The JV won the design contract for the project in December 2006 and will now also take charge of the next phase, Parsons said in a statement. It did not reveal any financial details.

The new scope of work includes elevating three major roads in Dubai, relocating utilities, and constructing the 2.8km long Dubai Water Canal.

The statement added that the project is split into three construction contracts, with Parsons responsible for the first two packages related to the roads and bridges, and Halcrow managing the third package for canal excavation and marine works.

The first phase of the project includes elevating Sheikh Zayed Road (six lanes in each direction) and relocating utilities using micro tunneling to facilitate the canal construction, Parsons said.

“Once completed, the Dubai Water Canal Project will add 6km to the Dubai waterfront and will attract many visitors,” said Guy Mehula, Parsons MEA president.

The 3km long project, which has a completion date of 2017, will run from Business Bay into the Arabian Gulf, crossing past Safa Park and Jumeirah.

The canal itself will measure six metres deep while bridges will be built eight metres high to allow the passing of yachts and marine craft.

With a width ranging from 80 metres to 120 metres, the project will include a new shopping centre, four hotels and 450 restaurants as well as luxury housing and cycling paths.

It is expected to provide new areas measuring 80,000 square metres for public places and facilities, as well as private marinas for boats and a new trade centre at the entrance of the canal.

Tweeting about the project in October last year, Dubai’s ruler Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum said: “The channel will be a tourist attraction for around 20 million visitors with walkways and bicycle lanes.

“We are continuously committed to bring our country more projects with a fresh perspective.”

In December, RTA awarded a Dhs500 million contract to Turkish firm Mapa and Gunal Constructions to begin work on the first bridge on Sheikh Zayed Road.