Riyadh Main And Ring Road Axes Package III Expands Major Road Infrastructure

The Royal Commission for Riyadh City has launched Package 3 of the Riyadh Main and Ring Road Axes Development Program, confirming six new projects worth more than SAR8 billion. Work on these projects is planned to finish within three to four years, and the schemes aim to expand capacity on key corridors and ease pressure on main traffic routes across Riyadh.

Package 3 forms part of wider road upgrades that support Saudi Vision 2030 goals for sustainable mobility and logistics. The program is designed to strengthen Riyadh’s status as a regional transport centre, encourage smoother movement between districts, and improve links with strategic corridors that handle growing traffic volumes every year.

The Main and Ring Road Axes Development Program began after directives issued in February 2020 by His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince, Prime Minister, and Chairman of the RCRC Board of Directors. Following this, Package 1 was announced in August 2024 with four projects totalling SAR13 billion, and Package 2 followed in February 2025, covering eight projects that together exceeded SAR8 billion.

RCRC confirms that Package 3 will build on these earlier phases, and further stages of the program will be introduced later. Officials state that the combined works across all packages aim to create an integrated road network, reduce delays on major junctions, and provide reliable access to economic, residential, and commercial areas around the capital.

Engineering Enhancements for Congested Areas – Phase II is one of the six projects in Package 3. It will apply advanced traffic engineering solutions at eight busy locations across Riyadh’s road system. These interventions are expected to raise vehicle handling capacity at targeted points by between 40 percent and 60 percent, through better intersection layouts and signal timing.

Other projects focus on major radial roads. The Othman bin Affan Road Development Project – Northern Section, stretching 4.3 kilometres, includes seven bridges and extensive upgrades along the corridor. It is planned to support up to 500,000 vehicles per day, improving journey times across northern Riyadh and strengthening connections with other primary routes.

The King Abdulaziz Road Development Project – Northern Section will extend over 4.7 kilometres and is designed for traffic loads reaching 450,000 vehicles daily. Plans feature four bridges, four main lanes, and one tunnel. The Thumamah Road Development Project – Eastern Section, around 8 kilometres long, will have three bridges and three tunnels, linking key mobility axes in northern and eastern Riyadh, with capacity reaching 200,000 vehicles per day.

On the western side, the Jeddah Road Development Project covers 29 kilometres and will include 14 bridges and five main lanes, enabling up to 353,000 vehicles per day. The Taif Road Development Project will span 15 kilometres, with four bridges, four main lanes, and two tunnels. It is intended to carry 200,000 vehicles daily and improve connections between southern, western, and central districts.

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To limit disruption while construction progresses, the Royal Commission for Riyadh City has prepared a citywide traffic diversion strategy in cooperation with relevant authorities. This plan aims to maintain continuous movement on surrounding routes, protect nearby neighbourhoods from excessive congestion, and ensure that road users can still reach key services as work on Package 3 advances.

With inputs from SPA