AMMAN — Minister of Public Works and Housing Maher Abul Samen on Monday directed technical teams and the contractor to accelerate work on the King Hussein Bridge road improvement project to ensure its completion before the end of the year.

 

During an inspection tour, Abul Samen stressed the need to speed up work while adhering to technical specifications, quality standards and traffic safety requirements, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

 

He said that the project is a priority because of the bridge’s strategic importance as a key border crossing and a major route for passenger and freight movement between Jordan and Palestine.

 

The minister called for deploying additional workers and machinery to maintain progress and bring the upgraded road into service as soon as possible.

 

Work on the project, which began on July 7, is nearly 40 per cent complete, although only a third of the 300-day contractual period has elapsed, putting it ahead of schedule.

 

The JD2 million project involves upgrading and expanding nearly four kilometres of road connecting the current bridge site to the opposite side into a four-lane dual carriageway with a central median.

 

Works include milling existing asphalt, repairing subsidence and cracks, laying new asphalt, excavating and filling, and installing a central island with double-arm, solar-powered lighting poles.

 

The project also includes road markings, traffic safety installations, protection of water structures and improved rainwater drainage systems.

 

Upon completion, the upgraded road is expected to improve traffic safety, facilitate passenger and cargo movement through the crossing and increase capacity to accommodate anticipated traffic growth between Jordan and Palestine.