RIYADH: Deputy Gov. Prince Sattam, who is also the acting chairman of the Arriyadh Development Authority (ADA), visited on Sunday the recently launched project of King Abdullah Road in Riyadh.
He was welcomed by members of the High Committee on Traffic Safety and ADA officials.
Prince Sattam was briefed on the different phases of the project, including the traffic control center's capabilities.
"Prince Sattam and his accompanying delegation also made an inspection tour of the project section and saw the road installations as well as the traffic control center," said Al-Sultan, an engineer and ADA acting president.
Al-Sultan added that the road project used advanced technology in traffic management to direct traffic and update traffic safety.
Riyadh Gov. Prince Salman, who is also the chairman of the ADA, opened part of King Abdullah Road project on May 29. The project is expected to help reduce traffic congestion in the city.
The road also includes a mechanism for monitoring traffic movement, in addition to a system that controls exits, and traffic signs that monitor cars leaving and entering the road.
The system offers prompt information on the number of cars crossing the road and their speed, by using 112 cameras. It has 53 points for collecting information.
Al-Sultan said King Abdullah Road represents the beginning of applying a traffic management system in Riyadh.
"Work is under way to link the control center of the road with Riyadh region's traffic control and guidance, which covers the whole city," he said.
On completion, King Abdullah Road will have three lanes in the main carriageway, in addition to service lanes.
The project will also include upgrading the Abu Bakr Al-Siddique and the Othman bin Affan tunnels to ensure safe and smooth traffic movement.
Riyadh city will also see a light train track in the future and a 214-meter tunnel at the crossing with Khaled bin Waleed Road.
© Arab News 2011
