The project to widen and redevelop the Addu Link Road to modern standards has been awarded to Hong Kong-based Chinese company Rotime Engineering and Technology Co Limited.
Minister of Infrastructure, Housing and Urban Development Dr Abdulla Muththalib signed the agreement on behalf of the Ministry, while Rotime Engineering and Technology Co Limited Managing Director Zhou Weidong signed on behalf of the company.
The project will widen the 12.3-kilometre stretch of Link Road between Detour Bridge and Hithadhoo Stadium to four lanes and redevelop the road to modern standards.
Minister Dr Muththalib previously said the redevelopment would proceed without closing the entire road.
The work has now been entrusted to the Chinese company after some work on the road had previously been assigned to the Road Development Corporation. The Ministry of Infrastructure, Housing and Urban Development said it handed the Link Road work to another party after removing the work from the corporation's scope.
Heavy machinery required for the work was transported to Addu City, while clearing work began during the early part of this year.
The Addu Link Road opened for use in 2003 and has undergone repairs at various times since then. However, residents of Addu City say the road remains in very poor condition.
Residents also say the poor condition of the road has resulted in numerous dangerous accidents over the years. Some of these accidents have claimed several lives, with a number of deeply distressing incidents occurring on the road.