Phase 2 of Riyadh’s road network overhaul goes online: The Royal Commission for Riyadh City kicked off the second phase of the Saudi city’s main and ring road development program, launching eight projects worth SAR 8 bn, according to a statement. The second phase is scheduled to be completed over a three-year period.

The projects include:

  • The development of the northern section of Prince Turki bin Abdulaziz Al Awal Road over a 6km stretch, including the development of two major intersections and the building of three bridges and a tunnel;
  • The development of the central section of Al Thoumamah Road Axis, which involves the development of five intersections and the construction of 11 bridges and five tunnels, all over a 10 km stretch;
  • The development of Imam Abdullah bin Saud Road, which will receive four major intersections, three bridges, and two tunnels over a 9 km stretch;
  • The development of Dirab Road, adding two intersections and four bridges over a 12 km stretch to raise its capacity to 340k vehicles per day;
  • The development of Imam Muslim Road, which will serve as the future southern extension of the Prince Turki Bin Abdulaziz Al Awwal Corridor. It will include four new intersections and four bridges;
  • Upgrading a 20 km road network around the King Abdullah Financial District (KAFD), where three intersections and 19 bridges will be added;
  • The construction of a bridge at the intersection of the King Salman Road and the Abu Bakr Al Siddiq Road, linking the former’s eastbound traffic to the latter’s northbound;
  • Implementing some traffic congestion engineering adjustments, which will focus on improving traffic at common points of congestion during peak hours.

What we don’t know: No details were provided about the individual cost of each project, or if the contracts were awarded to companies.

Background: The first phase of this program launched in August, with an initial four contracts worth some SAR 13 bn as part of the Ring Roads Axes Development Program, which kicked off in 2019. The program includes upgrades to some 500 km of roads in Riyadh, including the construction of new roads, revamping of existing roads, and implementing measures to boost connectivity. The initiative comes to accommodate population growth, bolster mega development projects in the city, and future-proof Riyadh’s road network.

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