Khaldeh – Okaibe Expressway, Beirut, Lebanon

Rendel, as part of a consortium led by Mazars LLP including IMC Worldwide and Allen & Overy, has been appointed by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) as the technical consultant for the feasibility, structuring and procurement of the Beirut–Okaibe Expressway in Lebanon.

The new expressway will be approximately 38km long and run between Khaldeh (south of Beirut) to Okaibe (north of Beirut). The goal of the project is to ease the severe congestion and reduce pollution within Greater Beirut Metropolitan Area by providing alternative routes alongside the local roads and the northern coastal highway. The project will create employment in the area, enhance economic growth and reduce fuel spending.

It is envisaged that the project will comprise a series of elevated highways, tunnels, bridges and interchanges around the perimeter of the Municipality of Beirut and continue through the mountainous northern section from Dbayeh to Okaibe. The planning for this project started in January 2019 with feasibility studies and design work to be completed over several years.

Currently it is envisaged that the construction, operation and maintenance will be implemented through a PPP model.

The role of each member of the consortium is as follows:

• Mazars: Financial and Transaction Leader
• Allen & Overy: Legal
• Rendel: Engineering
• IMC: Environmental and Social Impact Assessment
• Peter Davidson: Traffic

Our consortium is supported by the following national consultants:

• ACE: Engineering
• Badrian Salim El Meouchi Law Firm: Legal
• Elard: Environmental