The Khuwair road pipe burst

Photo source: Abdulla Al Rashdi

So old news already, is that a water main in the Southern Relief Road which links the Sultan Qaboos Sports stadium with MSQ/Khuwair and the last part of the Muscat Express way that goes down to Qurum (formerly death valley road) burst and took out the road yesterday early morning.

There has not really been much in the way of updates on this situation yet and so I thought I'd make a few observations here....

The break, is right by the old Hi FM building fly over - where you go to get to the ABA school and the Muscat Rugby Club grounds.

Already there are people living in Al Khuwair, Ruwi and Muttrah who are saying they do not have any water. I find it hard to believe that the only water main supply to Ruwi/Muttrah is via this artery, but perhaps it is. So far, as best as I know, no date for restoration of services has been given, neither have residents in the affected areas been given a number to call for a free water bowser supply to their homes.

I wonder how long it will take to fix it, and whether or not it will be fixed properly, or the usual, fill the hole with sand, roll it a bit and then put tarmac over it procedure that seems to be increasingly common around here. Apparently a PAEW spokesperson last night stated that the water pipe will be repaired within 20 hours and that water bowsers will be on standby for those without water. The statement is only about the pipe, not the road.

Perhaps the reasons why you don't just automatically go for the lowest bidder are starting to show through the cracks?

It's just a guess but I'm assuming that these repair works will probably take quite some time to complete fully - the entire area will have to be excavated, then the heavy mass concrete surround will need to be poured and cured, and then the road will need to be repaired over top.... that's going to take, in this town... weeks I'd say. Lets hope I'm wrong!

le fin.