KSA to spend US $3.17bn on roads in 2010

Saudi Arabia has committed to a major roadbuilding programme this year.

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Saudi Arabia will construct 6400km of new roads with this year’s budget allocation, according to transport minister Jebara Al-Seraisry.

“With a total expenditure of SR11.87 billion (US $3.17 billion), which includes surplus from the past years, 316 road projects have been approved,” he told Arab News.

“The approval also includes the completion of the projects that were launched in the past years.”

The works in Makkah province include 15km of the third phase of the circular road in Jeddah; the third phase of the conversion of an 80km stretch of the Jeddah-Jazan coastal road to an expressway; construction of an intersection on Madinah Road to the north of the Royal Lounge in Jeddah; completion of the repair of 36km on the Taif-Baha-Abha Road with concrete dividers; and construction of 13km of Aqba-Marwah Road.

The projects in Madinah province include the third and fourth phases of the Third Ring road; improvements to the intersections on the Second Ring road in Madinah city; construction of intersections on Ali bin Abu Talib road Quba road and Prince Abdul Mohsen road; completion of the 68km Madinah-Hail road; and the repair of a 50km stretch on the Tabuk-Madinah road and 39km of Khaybar-Hait road.

The works in Riyadh province include the 65km first phase of the conversion of the Hofairah-Nesah road to double lane; improvement works to the 14km first phase of the Riyadh-Qassim Expressway, 30km of Afif-Zalam road and 164km of Riyadh-Wadi Dawasir road.

The projects also include the completion of Shaqra-Dawadmi road, Majmaa-Shaqra double lane road and Riyadh-Rayn-Bisha road.

Projects in Qassim province include the completion of the inner city circular road in Buraidah; 10km third phase of the circular road in Al-Rass; the 27km extension of the Shaqa-Airport road and the 190km final phase of the road ending at the Oman border.

Other major projects include the first phase of the double lane road linking Riyadh-Dammam expressway with the Abu Hadriah-Dammam road and Dammam-Jubail road and linking of the King Fahd Airport road with the Abqaiq-Dhahran road.

In Asir province, the 150km Khamis Mushayt–Bisha road will be converted to double lane and the 30km Taif-Abha road will be turned to a double lane.

The budgetary allocation also includes the construction of 1721km of agricultural and branch roads at a total cost of $319 million.

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