Oman’s Ministry of Finance has signed a RO673 million ($1.75 billion) deal for a part of the Batinah Expressway project with the Kuwait Economic Development Fund (KEDF), according to a report.

The agreement covers a grant of $2.5 billion dedicated by Kuwait to Oman as part of the GCC Development Programme, said the Muscat Daily report.

The project costs around RO1.5 billion. It has eight lanes, 75 interchange and tunnels. The 270-km long road has four-lane sub-roads that connect the main road to residential areas on the Batinah coastal highway, which runs parallel to the expressway, it said.

It also includes truck weighing stations, foot bridges and rest houses.

The project is expected to be completed by the end of 2018 and will contribute to the socio-economic development of the Sultanate, it added.