The General Authority for Roads announced the completion of the world’s first road to use demolition waste from buildings in the asphalt mixes on the road surface, in cooperation with the Al-Ahsa Municipality and the National Waste Management Center (Mawan), The project involves using construction and demolition waste in the asphalt pavement layers of a road in Al-Ahsa Governorate.

The “Roads Authority” explained in its statement that the initiative aims to promote environmental sustainability and develop more efficient infrastructure in response to environmental challenges,noting that the management of construction and demolition waste is part of the Kingdom’s transition plan toward a circular economy, as the Kingdom seeks to recycle 60% of this waste by 2035.

It noted that the research study conducted at the Authority’s Road Research Center included an evaluation of asphalt and gravel layers containing aggregate derived from the crushing of building waste and old concrete, which was supplied from the Al-Ahsa Municipality’s environmental landfill. This fruitful collaboration with the National Waste Management Center (Mawan)) to expand the use of this type of sustainable paving.

The Highway Authorityaffirmed that implementing this initiative is a step that embodies the Kingdom’s vision of transforming environmental challenges into innovative opportunities, This approach also helps reduce the environmental impact of waste accumulation and decrease reliance on raw materials, thereby lowering road construction and maintenance costs and promoting environmental sustainability, making the road sector more sustainable and eco-friendly.

The General Authority for Roads is working to achieve the strategic objectives of the road sector, which are based on quality, safety, and traffic density, and whose vision calls for the promotion of innovation.