Riyadh’s residents have expressed dismay over many traffic rerouting moves as a result of various road projects currently being implemented by the government.

“We appreciate the fact that the public will ultimately benefit from these initiatives, but rerouting traffic without making motorists aware causes problems,” said one resident who drives to and from work daily.

Another resident who works for a local firm said that he also gets lost when he drives around the city because of rerouted traffic.

“Residents have to drive around to familiarize themselves with the new routes,” he said. Steve Portes, a civil engineer at a local consulting firm, said: “Many residents who seldom go out and drive around the city find themselves lost, as roads they are familiar with have been rerouted.”

Traffic flow, however, has been smooth on major roads during peak hours thanks to many completed projects.


“The massive development taking place is part of the government’s comprehensive plan for the capital city,” said Eric P. Asi, an engineer at a local firm.