Thumamah Road bridge opens in Riyadh
The new Thumamah Road bridge opened in Riyadh at 6 a.m. on Friday at its intersection with Prince Mohammed bin Salman Road, the Royal Commission for Riyadh City (RCRC) said, as reported by Saudi Gazette (9 October 2026).
About six months of work
Construction started on 1 April 2026 after the old bridge was demolished. The site sits in a busy area beside Riyadh Metro pillars, and crews lifted structural parts weighing more than 3,200 tonnes above Prince Mohammed bin Salman Road while traffic kept moving. The RCRC reported no injuries or accidents during the work.
The new layout
The bridge is about 400 metres long and 20 metres wide. It carries six main lanes, three in each direction, and four service lanes, two in each direction. The service lanes keep through traffic apart from local traffic, which is meant to ease congestion at the junction.
Who benefits
Thumamah Road links the east and west of the city. The bridge is designed to improve access to the King Abdullah Financial District (KAFD), main roads and the nearby residential and commercial areas.
Part of a wider corridor upgrade
The bridge belongs to the redevelopment of the 24-kilometre Thumamah Road corridor, from Sheikh Jaber Al-Sabah Road in the east to King Khalid Road in the west. That plan includes 17 bridges, 10 tunnels and three intersections, and work continues at the Thumamah Road and King Abdulaziz Road junction and other points. It falls under Riyadh’s Road Development Program, which covers more than 22 projects and aims to upgrade over 500 kilometres of roads in the capital.
For another recent transport update, see our post on the new shuttle buses from King Fahd International Airport to Jubail and Khafji.
FAQ
When did the Thumamah Road bridge open?
At 6 a.m. on Friday, after about six months of construction that began on 1 April 2026.
How many lanes does it have?
Six main lanes (three each way) and four service lanes (two each way).
Is work on Thumamah Road finished?
No. Work continues at the King Abdulaziz Road intersection and other spots along the 24 km corridor.
Source. Saudi Gazette, “Riyadh opens Thumamah Road bridge after six months of construction”, 9 October 2026, citing the Royal Commission for Riyadh City.
