MUSCAT : His Excellency Eng. Khamis bin Mohammed Al Shamakhi, Undersecretary of for Transport, confirmed to media personnel at a briefing held on January 12 that the ministry is currently finalising the awarding procedures.

The project has been designated as a ‘top priority’ within the 2026 State General Budget, which has earmarked RO 2.7 billion for the development and maintenance of over 2,500 kilometres of road networks across the Sultanate.

As part of preparatory steps, the ministry has already opened financial bids for consultancy services tasked with supervising construction works on the expressway.

The expansion project includes widening the expressway to five lanes in each direction from Al Qurm to Al Khuwair, and six lanes in each direction from Al Khuwair onwards, to align with the existing four-lane Batinah Expressway after the Halban Interchange. The plan also includes a two-lane directional flyover for left-turn traffic from westbound Al Nahda Street to southbound Muscat Expressway.

Additional works involve upgrading the Saih Al Maleh roundabout into a signalised interchange, widening existing wadi bridges, enhancing the Qurm Interchange, improving the Saih Al Maleh junction, and widening Qurm Heights Road. The project will also provide a direct connection between Sultan Haitham City and the Muscat Expressway.

Stretching 54 kilometres, the Muscat Expressway runs parallel to Sultan Qaboos Street, passing inland through mountainous terrain and linking with the Batinah Expressway, which extends to the UAE border at Khatmat Malaha.

For all the latest news from Oman and GCC, follow us on Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn, like us on Facebook and subscribe to our YouTube page, which is updated daily.