{
  "id": 13187918,
  "title": "Riyadh opens new Thumamah Road bridge after six months of construction",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/09/riyadh-opens-new-thumamah-road-bridge-after-six-months-of-construction",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-09T18:05:03.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Saudi Gazette",
    "slug": "saudi-gazette",
    "url": "https://saudigazette.com.sa/article/665259/saudi-arabia/riyadh-opens-thumamah-road-bridge-after-six-months-of-construction"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Royal Commission for Riyadh City (RCRC) inaugurated a new Thumamah Road bridge to traffic on Friday morning, six months after major construction concluded at its junction with Prince Mohammed bin Salman Road. The bridge's opening is anticipated to enhance traffic flow along Thumamah Road, a key route linking Riyadh's eastern and western sectors.\n\nConstruction for the bridge commenced on April 1, 2026, after the demolition of the preceding structure. Carried out in a dense, limited-space area adjacent to Riyadh Metro pillars, the project required meticulous precision in lifting and installing heavyweight components, exceeding 3,200 tonnes above Prince Mohammed bin Salman Road, while continuous vehicular traffic circled the site. Remarkably, the work unfolded without any reported injuries or accidents, thanks to measures aimed at mitigating disruption to motorists.\n\nMeasuring 400 meters in length and 20 meters in width, the new bridge comprises six primary traffic lanes in each direction, complemented by four service lanes, two each way. Its design aims to enhance access to the King Abdullah Financial District (KAFD), major thoroughfares, and nearby residential and commercial zones. The service lanes are strategically positioned to segregate through traffic from local traffic, thereby reducing congestion and boosting traffic efficiency at the intersection.\n\nThis bridge is part of the broader redevelopment of the 24-kilometer Thumamah Road corridor, stretching from Sheikh Jaber Al-Sabah Road in the east to King Khalid Road in the west. The corridor development encompasses 17 bridges, 10 tunnels, and three intersections. Construction also persists at the Thumamah Road-King Abdulaziz Road intersection and other sites along the corridor. These enhancements are underpinning Riyadh's Road Development Program, which encompasses over 22 projects across four groups, targeting an upgrade of over 500 kilometers of the capital's road network.",
  "summary": "RIYADH — The Royal Commission for Riyadh City (RCRC) opened the new Thumamah Road bridge to traffic at 6 a.m. Friday, following the completion of major construction work at its intersection with Prince Mohammed bin Salman Road.The bridge, which opened after approximately six months of construction, is expected to improve traffic flow along Thumamah Road, a major corridor connecting eastern and…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}