A damaged road in the rural Akkar governorate village of Summaqieh after a heavy rainstorm caused floods. Jan. 15, 2024. (Credit: João Sousa/L'Orient Today)
BEIRUT — The Ministry of Public Works has decided to rehabilitate several intranational highways and roads this year, especially in recent weeks, in various regions from southern Lebanon to areas close to the Lebanese-Syrian border.
Rehabilitation of several intranational highways
According to the state-run National News Agency (NNA), Minister of Public Works Ali Hamieh has announced which highways will fall under the ministry's project. They include the Chtoura-Zahleh-Riyaq-Baalbek highway that reaches the village of al-Qaa at the Lebanese-Syrian border; the Abdeh-Aboudieh road in Akkar; the Jbeil-Madfoun highway, the road that links Hazmiyeh to the Bekaa passing from Dahr al-Baydar; and the highway at the Chekka Tunnel in northern Lebanon.
The ministry did not respond to L'Orient Today's request for comment.
A source at the Union of Public Works Contractors told L'Orient Today that the Ministry of Public Works launched a total of 125 public tenders so far this year in all governorates, all of which are for the rehabilitation and maintenance of coastal and mountain roads and highways. They are financed by the 2024 budget allocated to the ministry by the Lebanese government, which amounts to around $70 million.
Eighty-five of these tenders have been granted to companies while 40 are still pending, according to the union source.
It's not only highways that are getting treated; many roads have been allocated to contractors this month across several districts. These include 125 roads in Baalbeck, at least 15 in Baabda, 14 in Hermel, 11 in Chouf, eight in Minyeh-Dinnieh, six in Akkar, six in the Western Bekaa, two in the Metn district, two in Rashaya, two in Zahleh and one in Jbeil.
Contractors comment
Contacted by L'Orient Today last Friday, an engineer who works with ARS, a company responsible for implementing the rehabilitation of the Abdeh-Aboudieh road in Akkar, said that there has indeed been progress on the project. The engineer credited Hamieh's ongoing efforts in this regard.
Asked about whether the construction would cause traffic issues, especially since the academic year will start soon, he responded that the work "started around ten days ago and would be done in around 20 days." Barring delays, this would mean the road work would end just two days after the beginning of the academic year for public schools.
On the other hand, the manager of Araco Lebanese for Asphalt, a company that was granted two tenders to fix highways and roads in the Baabda and Metn district, told L'Orient Today that the company is still waiting for the tenders to be validated by the Court of Audit, which can take two to three weeks. Only then will the company be able to move forward with construction.
Commenting on the ministry's plan to fix roads all over Lebanon, he said: "Hamieh was able to get funds for the ministry and launched tenders. There were no tenders in the past four years and this is obvious by looking at the roads' conditions."
The company manager said that to avoid traffic jams as a result of the road work, there will be "coordination with the Internal Security Forces and the Ministry of Public Works regarding the works' timings."
As for timing, “it depends on each case,” they said. “Some might take longer than others, it depends on several factors, including for example, if signal poles are included in the project or not."
The contractor for the Chekka highway, Bureau Hamid Kairouz, was not available for comment.
Amid the ongoing economic crisis in Lebanon, road conditions continue to deteriorate, characterized by a decrease in the amount of street lighting and traffic lights, as well as a drop in both road and car maintenance as both the government and drivers find themselves unable to afford repairs.
Experts say improving traffic safety in Lebanon will require changes to infrastructure, enforcement, vehicle standards and driver education.