Infrastructure, Public Works and Urban Issues

[eastwest]

Originally Posted by yazm1991

Airport road traffic to be diverted to service routes

The Ministry of Public Works and Housing will begin diverting traffic from the airport road to service roads starting next month, a ministry official said on ....

there has been detours also at the beginning of the airport road several months now, construction is underway for an interchange at that location

[yazm1991]

Originally Posted by eastwest

there has been detours also at the beginning of the airport road several months now, construction is underway for an interchange at that location

Cheers for the info eastwest.

[yalin155]

And that someone could do some pics of Jordan Road?

[eastwest]

Airport road interchange, construction progress

[yazm1991]

Seems like a large project.

Lets hope the standard of roads are much than those in Amman

[eastwest]

Finally

Disi project construction work officially begins



Turkish President Abdullah Gul (right) and Prime Minister Nader Dahabi arrive to inaugurate the Disi Water Conveyance Project in Al Qastal, south of Amman, on Wednesday (AFP photo)

AMMAN (JT) –– Turkish President Abdullah Gul and Prime Minister Nader Dahabi on Wednesday officially inaugurated construction of the vital Disi Water Conveyance Project.

Projected to supply the capital with 100 million cubic metres of water annually, Al Disi project will be implemented by the Turkish company GAMA.

In his remarks at the inauguration ceremony, held in Al Qastal area south of Amman, Gul highlighted the importance of the multimillion-dollar project, saying that he is confident that the company will execute the project within the set time frame.

He added that implementing and securing over $1 billion in funding for the Disi project was not an easy task in light of the global financial crisis, adding that Turkey is ready to increase cooperation with countries in the region in the field of water.

Stating that water will be the most important issue in the future, particularly as this issue is now the focal point of climate change talks, Gul stressed the importance of investments in the field.

He reiterated his country’s keenness to bolster relations with Jordan in all fields including political, economic, agricultural, cultural and defence matters, and called on businesspeople and companies in both countries to take the initiative and explore investment and cooperation opportunities.

Last month, the government said that GAMA had given instructions for the purchase of 30,000 tonnes of pipelines at a cost of $32 million in preparation for the execution of the megaproject.

More than 70 per cent of construction work on the project's main offices in Mudawara, built over a 5,000-cubic-metre area, is now finished, while 95 per cent of the pipeline warehouse is complete, the project's director Othman Kurdi said last month.

The project went into effect as of June 30 after the financial closure was signed. The government's equity in the project totals $400 million, $100 million of which is allocated as "standby" funding to be used if international prices of construction materials, including steel, increase.

The European Investment Bank and the French Development Agency extended two $100 million soft loans to the government.

To be carried out on a build-operate-transfer basis, the project entails constructing a 325-kilometre pipeline that will convey water from the ancient Disi aquifer in the south of Jordan to Amman.

The price of one cubic metre of water generated from the Disi project went down from JD0.87 to JD0.74 after the government raised its stake in the project and steel prices fell on international markets.

Jordan Times

[yazm1991]

Originally Posted by eastwest

Finally

Disi project construction work officially begins



Turkish President Abdullah Gul (right) and Prime Minister Nader Dahabi arrive to inaugurate the Disi Water Conveyance Project in Al Qastal, south of Amman, on Wednesday (AFP photo)

AMMAN (JT) –– Turkish President Abdullah Gul and Prime Minister Nader Dahabi on Wednesday officially inaugurated construction of the vital Disi Water Conveyance Project.

Projected to supply the capital with 100 million cubic metres of water annually, Al Disi project will be implemented by the Turkish company GAMA.

In his remarks at the inauguration ceremony, held in Al Qastal area south of Amman, Gul highlighted the importance of the multimillion-dollar project, saying that he is confident that the company will execute the project within the set time frame.

He added that implementing and securing over $1 billion in funding for the Disi project was not an easy task in light of the global financial crisis, adding that Turkey is ready to increase cooperation with countries in the region in the field of water.

Stating that water will be the most important issue in the future, particularly as this issue is now the focal point of climate change talks, Gul stressed the importance of investments in the field.

He reiterated his country’s keenness to bolster relations with Jordan in all fields including political, economic, agricultural, cultural and defence matters, and called on businesspeople and companies in both countries to take the initiative and explore investment and cooperation opportunities.

Last month, the government said that GAMA had given instructions for the purchase of 30,000 tonnes of pipelines at a cost of $32 million in preparation for the execution of the megaproject.

More than 70 per cent of construction work on the project's main offices in Mudawara, built over a 5,000-cubic-metre area, is now finished, while 95 per cent of the pipeline warehouse is complete, the project's director Othman Kurdi said last month.

The project went into effect as of June 30 after the financial closure was signed. The government's equity in the project totals $400 million, $100 million of which is allocated as "standby" funding to be used if international prices of construction materials, including steel, increase.

The European Investment Bank and the French Development Agency extended two $100 million soft loans to the government.

To be carried out on a build-operate-transfer basis, the project entails constructing a 325-kilometre pipeline that will convey water from the ancient Disi aquifer in the south of Jordan to Amman.

The price of one cubic metre of water generated from the Disi project went down from JD0.87 to JD0.74 after the government raised its stake in the project and steel prices fell on international markets.

Jordan Times

GREAT NEWS

[yazm1991]

Jordan seeks Thai help to make artificial rain

AMMAN - The government is planning to benefit from Thailand’s know-how in an artificial rainmaking process to be implemented during drought seasons in the Kingdom.

According to Thai Ambassador in Amman Isinthorn Sornvai, Jordan and Thailand will cooperate in a new technique adopted by the latter for purposes of artificial rain induction.

The Thai embassy in Amman has received a request from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs seeking cooperation between the two sides in this field through expediting a Jordanian team to Thailand to acquire the necessary knowledge and skills related in particular to a rain-induction technique that proved successful in the East Asian country, Sornvai told The Jordan Times on Saturday.

“The embassy has been recently informed of our government’s approval to share its expertise with Jordanian counterparts. We are in the process of arranging the visit for a technical team from the Jordanian Ministry of Water and Irrigation to Thailand and discuss chances of cooperation,” the Thai envoy said.

He added that the visit is expected to take place next year during the drought season in Thailand, usually expected in April and May.

He noted that the majority of Thai people depend on agriculture and Thailand needs a large amount of water for farming activities. Thai farmers, he said, had to wait for seasonal rain to grow crops. As a result, the crop production usually suffered from drought due to low rainfall during the long dry season.

According to the diplomat, based on an initiative by the Thai king, a project, the Royal Rainmaking Project, was launched under which efforts were concentrated on studying and researching artificial rainmaking techniques, adding that the project has proved successful since the first experiment in 1969.

Rainmaking operations have greatly benefited farmers throughout Thailand by solving the water shortage problem and increasing agricultural production to a considerable extent, Sornvai said, noting that Jordan has been suffering from water shortages for agricultural use.

Jordan, which is considered the world’s fourth poorest country in terms of water access, suffers an annual water deficit of 500 million cubic metres and per capita share of water does not exceed 150 cubic metres per year, well below the water poverty line of 1,000 cubic metres per year.

[yazm1991]

King, Queen check on Jabal Al Qalaa development project

His Majesty King Abdullah on Tuesday issued directives to provide Jabal Al Qalaa, which houses the Amman Citadel, with the infrastructure services needed to preserve its historical value and upgrade its importance as a tourist attraction.

During a visit to the Citadel yesterday, accompanied by Her Majesty Queen Rania and several officials, the King underlined the need to preserve the capital’s ancient heritage, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

Jabal Al Qalaa, one of the oldest areas in Amman, has recently undergone rehabilitation by the Greater Amman Municipality (GAM) as part of its plans to revive the city centre.

The King also directed concerned parties to implement projects that safeguard historical and archaeological sites, in a manner that preserves the city’s history and keeps pace with modern developments.

Touring the refurbished areas yesterday, the King and the Queen were briefed on the project and its implementation phases by Amman Mayor Omar Maani.

GAM has completed developments at the Citadel, including a visitors gateway and a 100-square-metre centre provided with restroom facilities and a refreshment stall, in addition to renovating the garden of the Jordan Archaeological Museum, which originally dates back to 1951.

The project to renovate and overhaul Jabal Al Qalaa is part of a larger plan seeking to develop the nearby city centre and revive downtown Amman by transforming it into a tourist attraction and boosting commercial activity by creating new business opportunities, Maani said.

By providing a system of integrated services, the project will transform the citadel into a historical attraction that provides tourists with all their needs, Maani noted.

Highlighting the impact of the project on area residents, the mayor said it has had a positive impact on the Jabal Al Qalaa neighbourhood and stressed that GAM has met the residents’ needs and upgraded various services.

Commenting on the project, Tourism Minister Maha Khatib said the plan, prepared in cooperation between the ministry and GAM, is designed to develop the area and visitor services to encourage tourists to extend their stay in the capital.

During the visit, the King and the Queen also saw a model of an urban agricultural project to establish roof gardens in the centre of the city.

GAM is implementing the project, with the support of the World Bank and area residents, Maani said, adding that it will start with houses surrounding the Citadel site and extend to other areas, with the goal of 10,000 roof gardens.

[yazm1991]

GAM 'moving ahead' with large-scale projects

The Greater Amman Municipality (GAM) on Sunday said it is moving ahead with several large-scale projects, particularly those relating to enhancing the landscape of downtown Amman and the Government Departments Complex scheme.

The municipality has appropriated 1,100 square metres of land in the capital to start construction of two major ventures: The Amman Valley Development Project and the Government Departments Complex project, according to the GAM press centre.

"These two projects will bring about significant changes to the capital's landscape,” GAM said in a statement sent to The Jordan Times yesterday.

However, the projects, valued at JD1 billion, are still under study by the municipality and the government, the statement added.

Although GAM has already started phase one of the Amman Valley Development Project, a GAM official stressed that the municipality is coordinating with the government in order to come up with an execution plan for both projects.

After completing the needed studies, GAM will start to design the projects, then seek out interested investors, according to the GAM statement.

Meanwhile, the municipality said it has increased revenues from service fees collected from businesses compared to last year.

Fees from the towers and high-rise areas within the capital reached more than JD80 million in 2009, according to official figures.

Last month, the GAM Council endorsed the municipality's 2010 budget with a deficit of almost JD48 million.

According to Amman Mayor Omar Maani, revenues in the 2010 budget will increase by 2 per cent over the figure achieved in 2009.

The 2010 budget anticipates more than JD360 million in revenues, according to Maani.

The municipality also is achieving progress in its Jabal Al Qalaa Development Project, the statement added.

The site, which houses the Amman Citadel, is one of the oldest areas in the capital and has undergone rehabilitation by GAM, as part of its plans to revive the city centre.

The area will become a focal point for tourists, according to GAM officials.

Last week, Their Majesties King Abdullah and Queen Rania visited the site, and the King issued directives to provide Jabal Al Qalaa with the infrastructure services needed to preserve its historical value and upgrade its importance as a tourist attraction.

[yazm1991]

Disi project to begin in February - Najjar

The digging of wells at the Disi aquifer and the implementation of the over-$1 billion Disi Water Conveyance Project are scheduled to commence in late February, Minister of Water and Irrigation Mohammad Najjar said Tuesday.

The ministry has asked GAMA, the Turkish company implementing the mega-project, to present a plan detailing its preparations for the location, the digging process and the needed equipment before the end of the year, according to Najjar.

"We have asked the company to work at the same time on transferring the pipes and other needed equipment to the Kingdom," Najjar told reporters yesterday during a press conference.

Disi Project Director Othman Kurdi said the pipes are expected to arrive in Jordan in either late January or early February.

"The diameters of the pipes range between 1,500cm-1,700cm, depending on whether they are main or secondary pipes. They will be stored at a warehouse in Khan Zabib area, around 20 kilometres south of the [Queen Alia International] airport," Kurdi said during the press conference.

To be carried out on a build-operate-transfer

basis, the project entails constructing a 325-kilometre pipeline that will convey water from the ancient Disi aquifer in the south of Jordan to Amman.

The Disi project is expected to supply the capital with 100 million cubic metres of water annually.

Kurdi noted that excavation will start at the end of February, and will be carried out in two phases. The first phase includes extending pipes from Madaba Bridge to Dabouk, in the western outskirts of Amman.

"This phase will be carried out simultaneously with the Ministry of Housing and Public Works' excavations for expanding the airport road," Kurdi said.

The project director noted that the second phase entails extending pipelines from a plant in Madaba Bridge to Abu Alanda area, southeast of the capital.

The project also entails digging 55 underground wells in the Disi aquifer to a depth of 500 metres. The water will be transferred to Amman via a pipeline, which will pass through several water stations, from Maan-Tafileh-Karak-Madaba and finally to Amman.

The pipeline can also be extended to Zarqa in case of an emergency at any of the water stations, according to officials.

The project went into effect as of June 30 after the financial closure was signed. The government's equity in the project totals $400 million, $100 million of which is allocated as "standby" funding, to be used if international prices of construction materials, including steel, increase. The European Investment Bank and the French Development Agency extended two $100 million soft loans to the government for the project.

The price of one cubic metre of water generated from the Disi project went down from JD0.87 to JD0.74 after the government raised its stake in the project and steel prices fell on international markets.

Water officials describe the Disi project as "Jordan's first step towards achieving water security", highlighting that the Jordan Red Sea Development Project will be the Kingdom's long-term solution to its acute water shortage.

[yazm1991]

40% of Marj Al Hamam intersection project completed - GAM

The Greater Amman Municipality (GAM) has completed 40 per cent of the Marj Al Hamam-Jabal Arafat intersection project, according to a GAM statement released on Sunday.

Work on the JD23 million project is scheduled to be completed by the end of this year, to facilitate traffic movement from Amman to Marj Al Hamam and the Queen Alia International Airport, GAM Deputy Manager for Public Works Affairs Fawzi Musad said.

GAM began work on the project in February last year. It entails the construction of a 560-metre overpass from Marj Al Hamam to West Amman and a tunnel to connect Marj Al Hamam with Jabal Arafat in the Abdoun District.

The project also includes a tunnel to allow vehicles from Jabal Arafat to connect to the airport road directly. So far, GAM has constructed the supporting columns for the overpass and the lower tunnel while work is currently under way on the upper tunnel, according to the GAM official.

The project is part of an ongoing "traffic projects package" adopted by GAM to resolve the traffic problems within the capital.

Meanwhile, work is under way on the JD70 million airport road expansion project, which entails widening the road by adding one lane on each side, making it a six-lane highway, in addition to constructing side streets and pedestrian bridges to serve area residents.

The 14-metre wide service roads will become the main route between Amman to the Queen Alia International Airport until work on the main road is completed.

Meanwhile, GAM is also working on the seven-kilometre Wadi Abdoun corridor development project, at a cost of JD16 million, to ease the flow of traffic in the Zahran, Wadi Seer and Abdali areas.

[yazm1991]

Designs finalised for Disi project

Detailed designs have been finalised for the Disi Water Conveyance Project, scheduled to begin later this month, a government official said on Thursday.

The blueprints include the project’s plan and engineering designs, Disi Project Director Othman Kurdi said yesterday, noting that all that remains is “fine-tuning” for the project.

“Excavations on the route where the pipeline will be laid will start by the end of this month in conjunction with the Ministry of Housing and Public Works’ excavations for expanding the airport road,” Kurdi told The Jordan Times.

To be carried out on a build-operate-transfer basis, the project entails constructing a 325-kilometre pipeline that will convey water from the ancient Disi aquifer in the south of Jordan to Amman.

The Disi project is expected to supply the capital with 100 million cubic metres of water annually by the end of 2012.

The first phase of the excavation work includes extending pipes from Madaba Bridge to Dabouk, in the western outskirts of Amman, while the second phase entails extending a pipeline from a plant in Madaba to the Abu Alanda area, southeast of the capital.

Kurdi did not say when digging will begin on the wells from which the water will be pumped, noting that the Ministry of Water and Irrigation and GAMA, the Turkish company implementing the project, are negotiating the time frame.

The project entails digging 55 underground wells in the Disi aquifer to a depth of 500 metres. The water will be transferred to Amman via a pipeline, which will pass through several water stations, from Maan-Tafileh-Karak-Madaba and finally to Amman.

The project went into effect on June 30 last year after the financial closure was signed. The government’s equity in the project totals $400 million, $100 million of which is allocated as “standby” funding, to be used if international prices of construction materials, including steel, increase.

The European Investment Bank and the French Development Agency extended two $100 million soft loans to the government for the project.

The price of one cubic metre of water generated from the Disi project went down from JD0.87 to JD0.74 after the government raised its stake in the project and steel prices fell on international markets.

[yazm1991]

New interpretation signs to bring Petra to life

Over 40 new interpretation signs have been placed along the main tourist trail in Petra to improve the available information and enrich the tourism experience, according to industry officials.

The Petra Development and Tourism Region Authority (PDTRA) and the USAID/Jordan Tourism Development Project (JTDP) produced a total of 43 signs, which are being placed near “key” monuments and features in Petra to give visitors an idea of the history, culture and practices of the Nabataean civilisation.

“We are moving quickly to respond to international tourist expectations and increased visitor numbers, and dramatically improve the Petra experience,” said PDTRA Chief Commissioner Nasser Shraideh in a statement received by The Jordan Times.

“The signs are one of many tangible changes that visitors are beginning to see at the site,” Shraideh added.

The interpretation signs are part of an overall plan being implemented by the PDTRA to develop the Petra Archaeological Park to improve visitor services, according to the authority.

The PDTRA is also preparing other projects and initiatives to provide visitors with safety and educational information.

Earlier this year, a new site brochure and map were produced that give visitors a general idea about the history of the rose-red city and the Nabataeans including a guide to the site’s “main trail”.

Over the next six months, additional interpretive signs will be developed to cover all “significant” monuments in Petra in addition to further direction and caution signs, the JTDP said.

The signage also comes as an effort to prevent accidents in the ancient city, which although rare, have occurred in cases of visitors wandering off the main path and into restricted areas.

[yazm1991]

New dam to conserve drinking water in northern region

Designs for a new multimillion dinar dam in Ajloun will be completed this month in a bid to conserve drinking water in the northern region, a government official said on Tuesday.

The blueprint for the JD28 million Kufranjah Dam in Ajloun Governorate is expected to be finished later this month, with construction scheduled for early August, according to Fouad Ejeilat, who heads the dams directorate at the Jordan Valley Authority.

Designed to store six million cubic metres (mcm), the dam seeks to prevent drinking water from being used to irrigate trees and crops in the northern region, where water per capita is the lowest in the country, according to the Ministry of Water and Irrigation.

“Drinking water from the Wadi Al Arab Dam is being channelled for the irrigation of crops in the area. The Kufranjah Dam will serve as a replacement dam,” Ejeilat told The Jordan Times yesterday, noting that construction of the dam will take three years.

Dams, though expensive to build, are vital for the Kingdom to secure its water needs, according to experts.

The Kingdom’s 10 major dams are the King Talal, Wadi Al Arab, Sharhabil, Kafrein, Wadi Shuaib, Karameh, Tannour, Waleh, Mujib and Wihdeh.

The dams currently hold 64 per cent of their total capacity of 215.44mcm, excluding the 110mcm Wihdeh Dam, where water storage is currently experimental. The dam now holds 15.5mcm of its total capacity.

Jordan, which is considered the world’s fourth water poorest country, suffers an annual water deficit of 500mcm and per capita share of water does not exceed 150 cubic metres per year, well below the water poverty line of 500 cubic metres per year.

According to official figures, 91 per cent of Jordan’s total area of 97,000 square kilometres is arid land with an annual rainfall average of 50-200 millimetres (mm), while 2.9 per cent is categorised as semi-arid with an annual rainfall average of 400-580mm.

[yazm1991]

King donates JD3m for Jerash development projects

His Majesty King Abdullah on Tuesday donated JD3 million for the implementation of vital development and service projects in Jerash Governorate.

At a meeting with members of the governorate's consultative council, King Abdullah gave instructions for the government to follow up on the demands and needs presented by members of the council.

His Majesty noted that a meeting will be held in two weeks at the Royal Court gathering representatives of the council and concerned ministers to draw up plans to carry out needed projects in the governorate in order of priority.

King Abdullah said that in spite of the economic challenges at hand, the government is working on a strategy to reduce citizens' burdens, underlining the need to work diligently and cooperatively to meet the needs of the governorate.

With a total population of 179,000, Jerash Governorate has a poverty rate of 20.2 per cent, about 6 per cent higher than the national average, while unemployment in the governorate stands at 13.4 per cent, according to official figures.

“We are trying to reduce the burdens you face in 2010 and according to the available resources. This is our ultimate objective,” the King said while addressing the members of the council.

His Majesty emphasised that he will remain in contact with the council and closely follow up on their needs and demands as well as the progress made in the projects to be implemented.

The Monarch stressed the importance of the council in identifying priorities in the governorate, noting that its role will increase in the future as part of the decentralisation programme the government is implementing.

During his visit to Jerash, King Abdullah also inaugurated the headquarters of the governorate and checked on progress in a project to expand Jerash Public Hospital, which has opened new medical sections supplied with “state-of-the art medical devices”, according to officials.

Members of the council called for creating healthcare centres in various areas of the governorate and urged the expansion of schools, also noting that the governorate is in dire need of improved infrastructure to enhance its tourism industry.

They also called for creating a public university or community college in the governorate and said sewage and water networks in several areas are in need of rehabilitation. They highlighted the need for projects to alleviate poverty and unemployment and called for creating youth centres.

At the meeting, Prime Minister Samir Rifai, who stressed that the economy is in good condition despite the large budget deficit and public debt, highlighted the government’s keenness to enhance infrastructure to attract tourism investment in the governorate, referring to the King’s efforts in attracting investments.

Rifai added that the government has allocated JD1.5 million for renewing water networks in Jerash and JD3 million for sewage projects.

On education, he noted that the government allocated JD1.3 million for the creation of a community college in Jerash in the 2010 state budget, in addition to JD900,000 in the 2011 budget to start the project.

Rifai added that a total of JD1.3 million were allocated for the creation of Ajloun Hospital and the expansion of Jerash Public Hospital.

Rifai said the government cannot pay the debts of municipalities; however, he said it will help municipalities in planning and implementation on what is feasible and what is not.

At the meeting, Minister of Municipal Affairs Ali Ghezawi reviewed the Jerash master plan, which seeks to enhance the socio-economic conditions of the governorate and improve services offered to its citizens.

The plan, which will be implemented over three phases, identifies the usages of land and takes into account the agricultural and tourism features of the governorate.

It also entails plans for transportation that seek to reduce traffic congestions and includes a plan for development projects and investments. The blueprint also includes plans to distribute public utilities across the governorate.

Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Maha Khatib said several infrastructure projects, which were suspended for a while in Jerash, will be resumed next week, stressing the government’s keenness to create the appropriate atmosphere for investments in the tourism sector in the governorate.

[yazm1991]

Great news for Jerash

[yazm1991]

Prince Hussein Square

The Greater Amman Municipality (GAM) announced on Monday that it has completed 50 per cent of the intersection project on the airport road, which it named after HRH Crown Prince Hussein earlier this year. In a press statement, GAM Deputy Manager for Public Works Affairs Fawzi Musad said work is currently under way on a two-lane overpass, which leads from Marj Al Hamam to the 7th Circle. Work on the JD23 million project, which started in February last year, is scheduled to be completed by the end of this year, to facilitate traffic movement from Amman to Marj Al Hamam and the Queen Alia International Airport

[sirenz]

Abdali Interchange







source

[sirenz]

Airport road interchange



source