Latest news with #RoadResearchCentre
Kuwait Times
28-05-2025
- Kuwait Times
Saudi expands white road project to cool hajj routes
MAKKAH: Saleh Al-Jasser, the Saudi Minister of Transport and Logistics Services and Chairman of the Roads General Authority, launched the cooled pedestrian walkway project in Makkah, which will enhance accessibility services for individuals with disabilities. According to the Roads General Authority, the cooled roads initiative has expanded by 82 percent, building on its initial success since its launch in 2023. More than 84,000 sq m of roads in Arafat have now been paved using locally sourced recycled materials designed to reduce heat absorption from sunlight. These materials lower surface temperatures by approximately 12°C and reflect 30–40 percent more sunlight during the morning hours, helping to mitigate urban heat islands and providing a more comfortable environment for pilgrims while reducing energy consumption and air pollution. Furthermore, the growth of flexible rubber roads increased by 33 percent. These surfaces aim to soften asphalt in pedestrian areas, offering particular advantages to older adults. The newly laid section extends from Namira Mosque to Arafat Train Station, raising the overall flexible pavement area to 16,000 sq m. Research conducted by the Road Research Centre has validated the improved comfort and safety of this advanced rubberized asphalt. The new initiatives feature a green corridor project along the adaptable route, featuring trees planted over 1,200 meters from Namira Mosque to the train station. To enhance air quality and comfort for pilgrims, air-cooling mist systems and water fountains have been installed in collaboration with the Abdulrahman Fakieh Charitable Foundation. Furthermore, the minister has introduced an accessibility initiative aimed at supporting individuals with disabilities. This initiative features a 4,000-metre pedestrian path that leads to Mount Arafat, built with cooled paving materials designed to minimize vibrations and enhance mobility for users and their companions. The Roads General Authority, the national regulator of Saudi Arabia's Road sector, aims to elevate the quality of roads to rank sixth globally by 2030 and reduce road fatalities to fewer than five per 100,000 people. Saudi Arabia currently boasts the world's leading intercity road connectivity, with a total network exceeding 73,000 km. – AFP
Web Release
28-05-2025
- Web Release
In a Warming World, Mecca Cools Down : Saudi Arabia Expands ‘White Road' Project
Eng. Saleh Al-Jasser, the Saudi Minister of Transport and Logistics Services and Chairman of the Roads General Authority, launched the cooled pedestrian walkway project in Mecca, which will enhance accessibility services for individuals with disabilities. According to the Roads General Authority, the cooled roads initiative has expanded by 82%, building on its initial success since its launch in 2023. More than 84,000 square metres of roads in Arafat have now been paved using locally sourced recycled materials designed to reduce heat absorption from sunlight. These materials lower surface temperatures by approximately 12°C and reflect 30–40% more sunlight during the morning hours, helping to mitigate urban heat islands and providing a more comfortable environment for pilgrims while reducing energy consumption and air pollution. Furthermore, the growth of flexible rubber roads increased by 33%. These surfaces aim to soften asphalt in pedestrian areas, offering particular advantages to older adults. The newly laid section extends from Namira Mosque to Arafat Train Station, raising the overall flexible pavement area to 16,000 square meters. Research conducted by the Road Research Centre has validated the improved comfort and safety of this advanced rubberised asphalt. The new initiatives feature a green corridor project along the adaptable route, featuring trees planted over 1,200 meters from Namira Mosque to the train station. To enhance air quality and comfort for pilgrims, air-cooling mist systems and water fountains have been installed in collaboration with the Abdulrahman Fakieh Charitable Foundation. Furthermore, the Minister has introduced an accessibility initiative aimed at supporting individuals with disabilities. This initiative features a 4,000-metre pedestrian path that leads to Mount Arafat, built with cooled paving materials designed to minimise vibrations and enhance mobility for users and their companions. The Roads General Authority, the national regulator of Saudi Arabia's Road sector, aims to elevate the quality of roads to rank sixth globally by 2030 and reduce road fatalities to fewer than five per 100,000 people. Saudi Arabia currently boasts the world's leading intercity road connectivity, with a total network exceeding 73,000 kilometers. For further inquiries, please contact: [email protected].
Daily Tribune
27-05-2025
- Daily Tribune
Beneath Bare Feet, Mecca Engineers Mercy
Saudi expands white roads to cool pilgrims' path • 82% expansion in cooled roads • Walkways aid elderly, disabled • Trees, mist enhance comfort You Know What: During Hajj, ground temperatures in Mecca can exceed 60°C under direct sun, posing serious risks of heatstroke for barefoot or thinly-shod pilgrims. Mahir Haneef TDT| Manama Saudi Arabia has significantly expanded its cooled roads initiative in Mecca, offering critical relief to pilgrims as temperatures continue to rise across the region. The project, launched in 2023, has now grown by 82%, transforming over 84,000 square metres of pedestrian routes in Arafat using locally sourced, heat-reflective materials. These specially developed surfaces reduce road temperature by nearly 12°C and reflect up to 40% more sunlight in the early hours, helping mitigate the effects of urban heat islands while cutting down on energy use and pollution. Accessibility focus Eng. Saleh Al-Jasser, Saudi Minister of Transport and Logistics Services and Chairman of the Roads General Authority, inaugurated the upgraded stretch of the 'White Road' project, which includes new features aimed at enhancing mobility for individuals with disabilities. A 4,000-metre accessibility path leading to Mount Arafat was unveiled as part of the initiative. The path is surfaced with cooled materials designed to minimise vibrations, allowing easier navigation for wheelchair users and those with mobility challenges. Rubber roads, green corridor The expansion also includes a 33% increase in flexible rubber walkways, designed to soften the ground beneath pilgrims' feet. Extending from Namira Mosque to Arafat Train Station, the upgraded stretch brings the total rubber-paved area to 16,000 square metres. Testing by the Road Research Centre confirmed the material's safety and comfort, especially for elderly pilgrims. To further ease the journey, a green corridor project now lines a 1,200-metre stretch of the route with trees and shade. Cooling mist systems and water fountains, installed in collaboration with the Abdulrahman Fakieh Charitable Foundation, have been added to lower ambient temperatures and improve air quality. Global ranking goals The Roads General Authority aims to position Saudi Arabia among the top six countries globally in road quality by 2030. The Kingdom already leads in intercity connectivity with a network exceeding 73,000 kilometres and is working to reduce road fatalities to fewer than five per 100,000 people. The expanded initiative reflects Saudi Arabia's ongoing push to blend innovation, accessibility, and safety into its transport infrastructure, particularly during high-density pilgrimage seasons.
Mid East Info
27-05-2025
- Mid East Info
In a Warming World, Mecca Cools Down : Saudi Arabia Expands ‘White Road' Project As temperatures soar, heat-reflective roads and soft walkways offer critical relief for millions during the Hajj
Mecca Eng. Saleh Al-Jasser, the Saudi Minister of Transport and Logistics Services and Chairman of the Roads General Authority, launched the cooled pedestrian walkway project in Mecca, which will enhance accessibility services for individuals with disabilities. According to the Roads General Authority, the cooled roads initiative has expanded by 82%, building on its initial success since its launch in 2023. More than 84,000 square metres of roads in Arafat have now been paved using locally sourced recycled materials designed to reduce heat absorption from sunlight. These materials lower surface temperatures by approximately 12°C and reflect 30–40% more sunlight during the morning hours, helping to mitigate urban heat islands and providing a more comfortable environment for pilgrims while reducing energy consumption and air pollution. Furthermore, the growth of flexible rubber roads increased by 33%. These surfaces aim to soften asphalt in pedestrian areas, offering particular advantages to older adults. The newly laid section extends from Namira Mosque to Arafat Train Station, raising the overall flexible pavement area to 16,000 square meters. Research conducted by the Road Research Centre has validated the improved comfort and safety of this advanced rubberised asphalt. The new initiatives feature a green corridor project along the adaptable route, featuring trees planted over 1,200 meters from Namira Mosque to the train station. To enhance air quality and comfort for pilgrims, air-cooling mist systems and water fountains have been installed in collaboration with the Abdulrahman Fakieh Charitable Foundation. Furthermore, the Minister has introduced an accessibility initiative aimed at supporting individuals with disabilities. This initiative features a 4,000-metre pedestrian path that leads to Mount Arafat, built with cooled paving materials designed to minimise vibrations and enhance mobility for users and their companions. The Roads General Authority, the national regulator of Saudi Arabia's Road sector, aims to elevate the quality of roads to rank sixth globally by 2030 and reduce road fatalities to fewer than five per 100,000 people. Saudi Arabia currently boasts the world's leading intercity road connectivity, with a total network exceeding 73,000 kilometers.
