Kuwait to enhance road quality with rubber asphalt

• Saudi Arabia has reduced road deaths by nearly 50%, exceeding targets in the National Transport and Logistics Strategy, while promoting sustainable development through its interconnected road network.

The General Authority for Roads in Saudi Arabia has announced the launch of the Road Safety and Sustainability Conference 2024 in collaboration with the International Road Federation, featuring participation from Minister of Public Works Dr. Noura Al-Mashaan, in the capital city of Riyadh, according to Q8-Press.

M. Saleh Al-Jasser, Saudi Minister of Transport and Logistics, stated in his opening speech that Saudi Arabia has implemented many scientific innovations, such as cooling roads and rubber roads, and has advanced to fourth place among G20 countries in the road quality index.

Al-Jasser added that Saudi Arabia has recorded a nearly 50% decrease in the number of deaths on its road network, surpassing the targets set in the National Transport and Logistics Strategy. He pointed to several initiatives that support the maintenance of road quality and safety in Saudi Arabia, indicating that the Kingdom’s road network is the most interconnected in the world and promotes the sustainable development of individuals and goods according to the highest security and safety standards.

For his part, M. Abdullah, Honorary President of the International Road Federation, explained that the Union has utilized modern technologies to enhance road safety and sustainability, as well as to improve their efficiency. He noted that these technologies have been implemented worldwide to maintain and operate roads, raise safety levels, and enhance sustainability.

In turn, Dr. Noura Al-Mashaan, during a ministerial session titled “Road Safety: Innovations and Lessons Learned,” which included several ministers, stated that last October a contract was signed for the maintenance of all roads in Kuwait, including highways and internal roads.

Al-Mashaan pointed out that there are many challenges ahead, some of which have been overcome while others are still being studied. She highlighted the challenge of data collection due to overlapping responsibilities for traffic safety among the Ministry of Interior, the municipality, and the Ministry of Works. To address this, they created a comprehensive database through the General Directorate of Civil Information, incorporating all relevant authorities.

She noted the use of Kuwait’s digital temporal and spatial maps to compile data, creating a database for all competent authorities to analyze for potential road safety solutions.

Additionally, she mentioned that the Ministry of Public Works is conducting studies and research to improve road quality, utilizing rubber asphalt and recycling materials while considering environmental sustainability, reducing carbon emissions, and cutting costs.

After that, the ministers and participants toured the exhibition accompanying the conference to learn about the latest technologies in sustainable transport and recent developments aimed at enhancing road safety and reducing environmental impact.