Oman's Ministry of Transport has awarded contracts worth more than RO165 million ($427 million) for two key road developments in the sultanate, said a report.

The first agreement was for addition of third and fourth lanes to the 27-km Rusayl-Bidbid road, which runs from Muscat Expressway to Sharqiyah, while the second one was for a series of internal roads that will connect the Batinah Highway, reported the Oman Observer.

This road will be designed according to all traffic safety requirements with vehicles able to operate at a speed of 120 km/hour. Also, two new intersections will be added including one in Ghala to keep pace with urban development and population growth in these areas, it stated.

The RO86 million project is due for completion in 30 months and once ready it will be able to handle around 8,030 vehicles per hour, said the report, citing Dr Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Futaisi, Minister of Transport.

To facilitate the pedestrian crossing, the existing underpasses have been expanded, and four overbridges will be provided to serve the communities on both sides of the road. Also a service road running 18 km long will be added to the main road.

The second agreement valued at around RO79 million for Batinah Expressway Package 7 will be completed in three years. The project also includes roads linking to the old Al Batinah Highway, said the Oman Observer report.

The scope of works include establishing a road linking the Khazaen economic zone with the Batinah Expressway for a length of 14 km; construction of a single 22.7-km-long road linking Al Batinah Expressway to the Musannah roundabout, it added.