Abu Bakr Al-Siddiq Road Tunnel

Traffic goes under, people stay on top

The point of the tunnels is simple: keep busy roads out of the park. The Foundation says the tunnels isolate traffic, limit pollution and noise leaking into the park and increase the total green area.

What it is

The Abu Bakr Al-Siddiq Road tunnel crosses the park north to south over 2,430 m. According to the Foundation's announcement a new 1,590 m section was joined to an existing 840 m tunnel. It has three lanes in each direction plus an emergency lane, modern traffic management and safety systems, and, per one report, a water-mist system. Its interior uses colour gradations that evoke earth layers and Riyadh's rock formations, in line with the Salmani architecture language.

Timeline

Works began in the third quarter of 2021 under the SAR 3.847 billion contracts for site preparation, tunnels and bridges that Arab News reported in September 2021. The Foundation announced completion on 28 February 2024, and vehicles were allowed from 29 February. It was the first completed component since works began.

How long is "longest"?

Some coverage calls it one of the longest tunnels in the Middle East. We have not found a ranking source, so we leave the claim out.

Where it stands

Completed and in use as a road. Our map position is the midpoint of the portals as drawn in OpenStreetMap, so it is approximate.