Ongoing efforts to improve road quality
The General Authority for Roads in Saudi Arabia announced significant progress in the sixth edition of its “Safe and Excellent Roads” , with field teams successfully addressing 971 technical and engineering observations across the Kingdom. This strategic campaign was launched last February under the patronage of His Excellency the Minister of Transport and Logistics and Chairman of the Authority’s Board of Directors, Engineer Saleh bin Nasser Al-Jasser. The campaign primarily aims to conduct a comprehensive survey and thorough evaluation of the road network outside urban areas to ensure the highest standards of quality and safety for road users.
The General Authority for Roads explained that its monitoring and field teams have identified 12,157 observations since the start of the campaign. Of these, 971 observations have been addressed, representing 8% of the total. Meanwhile, specialized technical teams are continuing their intensive, round-the-clock work to address the remaining 11,186 observations. These concerted efforts aim to improve the efficiency of the national road network, enhance traffic safety levels, and reduce accidents.
Campaign details and participating entities
The campaign aimed to conduct a comprehensive field survey of the national road network, which spans over 73,000 kilometers. To ensure the success of this ambitious undertaking, more than 620 members participated, representing a select group of professionals from the transportation and logistics sector, along with Saudi university students, members of the Special Forces for Road Security, and representatives from the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology. These participants were divided into 61 field teams, whose tasks focused on identifying and addressing potholes and asphalt cracks, repairing sidewalk defects, removing all elements of visual pollution, identifying areas with weak mobile phone coverage, and other vital aspects that directly impact the quality of the road user experience.
General context and infrastructure development in the Kingdom
Historically, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has placed great emphasis on developing its infrastructure, given its vast geographical area which necessitates a sophisticated road network to connect its cities, provinces, and centers. In recent years, with the launch of Saudi Vision 2030, the transportation sector has undergone a significant institutional transformation, culminating in the establishment of the General Authority for Roads and Bridges as the regulatory and legislative body for the Kingdom's road sector. This transformation aims to separate the legislative and operational aspects, ensuring the application of global best practices in road maintenance and construction, and preserving the national assets built over decades.
Strategic importance and expected impact
Domestically, the “Safe and Excellent Roads” campaign plays a pivotal role in protecting the lives of citizens and residents by reducing traffic accidents caused by road defects. Regionally and internationally, quality infrastructure is a cornerstone of the National Transport and Logistics Strategy, which aims to solidify the Kingdom’s position as a global logistics hub connecting the three continents of Asia, Africa, and Europe. A road network free of defects and equipped with the latest safety technologies facilitates trade and supply chains, thereby enhancing the Kingdom’s attractiveness to foreign investment.
Achieving the goals of Saudi Vision 2030
This campaign represents a significant step towards achieving the ambitious goals of the Roads Sector Program. Through these ongoing efforts, the Kingdom aims to reach sixth place globally in the Road Quality Index. The strategy also aims to reduce the traffic fatality rate to less than 5 deaths per 100,000 people. Achieving these figures will undoubtedly contribute to enhancing the quality of life, maintaining the sustainability of infrastructure, and solidifying Saudi Arabia's global leadership in road network connectivity, in line with the aspirations of Vision 2030.
