Omani Ministry of Transport and Communications (MOTC) has awarded a RO81.3-million ($210.6 million) seventh package of Batinah Expressway, a 270-km-long eight-lane highway that links the Muscat Expressway in Barka and Khatmat Milaha in the wilayat of Shinas.

The scope of work includes construction of interchanges and bridges, reported Oman New Agency.

The new expressway, which links Muscat to the Sohar Port and industrial area and to the UAE border, was opened to traffic in May last year.

The project was developed with an investment of RO1 billion ($2.6 billion), making it one of the biggest civil engineering and infrastructure projects in the Middle East, stated the report.

The road has four 3.75-m-wide lanes in each direction with 3-m-wide external asphalt shoulders and 2-m wide internal shoulders.

The ministry set about its work by dividing the Al Batinah Expressway construction initially into six packages.

Work on the first of six packages began in 2012. The Batinah Expressway boasts 23 interchanges, 17 flyovers and 12 ground passes in addition to 25 bridges, it added.