SAUDI ARABIA’S Transport Ministry is to spend SR11.3 billion ($3 billion) for 389 new road projects to be built across the kingdom.

The ministry has also allocated SR750 million ($199 million) for road maintenance and SR50 million ($13.3 million) for conducting studies on 2,762 km of new roads.

Riyadh’s projects include the first phase of Alkharj-Quwaieya Road, the second phase of Afif-Dhalam Road, and the road linking Riyadh-Qassim Road with Riyadh-Huraimala.

In Makkah, the projects include the fourth phase of the Ring Road in Jeddah, expansion of Taif-Sail Al-Kabir Road, linking Sail Al-Kabir with the Taif-Riyadh Expressway, the second phase of the Bisha-Kharma Road, Uqbat Muhammadiya Road, Alzima-Jamoom Road and Um Al-Zella-Hawiya Nemar Road.

New projects in Madinah include the fifth phase of the Third Ring Road, Madinah-Al-Ula-Tabuk Road, Yanbu-Sharma-Haqel Road, Hail-Madinah Road, and Rafeea-Jaraf Road.

In Qassim, the ministry will implement Qassim-Makkah Road, Mudnib-Um Al-Hazm-Alghat Road, the fourth phase of the ring road in Al-Rass, the remaining part of Buraidah Ring Road, Madinah-Qassim Road, and Yanbu-Rabigh-Thuwal Road.

New projects in the Eastern Province include Dammam-Abuhadriya-Hafr Al-Batin-Ruqae Road, Safwa-Raheema Road, Thuwair-Ajaeb Road and completion of the Batha-Shayba-Um Al-Zamoul Road.

Eight projects will be carried out in southern Asir including the Saleel-Roudan bin Hashbal Road and the Riyadh-Rayen-Bisha Road while in Tabuk the projects include the Tabuk-Madinah Expressway and  the Tabuk-Hail Road.

New projects in the Hail include completing the Hail-Madinah and Hail Ring Road, the Wohaiba-Samiraa Road and Hail-Zubaira-Hafr Al-Batin Road. Projects in the Northern Frontier include the Abu Hadriya-Hafr Al-Batin-Refha Road and Arar-Sakaka Road.

In Jazan, the first phase of the coastal expressway will link Jazan and Tiwal while in Najran, the ministry will construct Najran Saleel Road and Najran-Sharourah-Wadea Road.

In Baha, major works include the Riyadh-Rayen-Bisha Road, the fifth phase of the Ring Road, Baljurashi-Aqeeq Road and repairing of Taif-Baha-Abha Road while in the northern province of Al Jouf a number of new projects will be carried out.