Saudi Arabia Enhances Holy Sites Comfort With Road Cooling Expansion

Riyadh, SPA—The Roads General Authority, in collaboration with several key entities, has announced the expansion of the asphalt surface cooling initiative at various holy sites. This initiative involves the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs and Housing, the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, the Pilgrim Experience Program, the Quality of Life Program, and the Holy Capital Municipality.

The initiative has been extended to areas next to Namira Mosque in Arafat, covering 25,000 square metres. The primary goal is to reduce temperatures in neighbourhoods and residential areas, lower energy consumption for cooling buildings, and mitigate climate change effects. This technology aims to provide a more comfortable environment in waiting areas and gathering locations.

First implemented last year at holy sites, the initiative addresses the "Urban heat island effect." Roads absorb heat during the day, with temperatures sometimes reaching 70 degrees Celsius. At night, this heat is released, increasing energy consumption and air pollution. The need to tackle this issue led to experimenting with "cool pavements."

Cool Pavements Technology

Cool pavements are made from locally produced materials that absorb less solar radiation by reflecting it. This results in a lower surface temperature compared to traditional pavements, making it suitable for roads around residential areas. The Roads General Authority is developing research and practical experiments as part of its supervisory and regulatory role in the road sector.

Strategic Vision and Goals

The authority's experiments align with its strategic vision to encourage innovation. The road sector's strategy aims to improve road quality to achieve the sixth global ranking and reduce fatalities to fewer than five per 100,000 people by 2030. This strategy supports the road sector's leading role in empowering many vital sectors through Saudi Arabia's interconnected road network.

Global Road Network

The Kingdom's road network spans over 73,000 kilometres, making it one of the most interconnected globally. The Roads General Authority continues to develop initiatives that enhance road quality and safety while addressing environmental challenges such as the urban heat island effect.

With inputs from SPA