Minister of Public Works and Housing Engineer Maher Abu Al-Saman, accompanied by Balqa Governor Dr. Faisal Al-Sumairan, inspected several roads and sites on Wednesday that were damaged by heavy rainfall and flash floods that affected the Kingdom the previous day.
اضافة اعلان
The minister assessed the extent of the damage and the measures required to address it, directing authorities to take urgent steps to ensure public safety and facilitate the movement of citizens.
Abu Al-Saman began his tour by inspecting the Al-Rama Bridge on the Al-Rama–Al-Joufa road, which the ministry closed after cracks in the bridge worsened as a result of heavy rainfall and flash floods in the area, in order to protect road users.
The minister reviewed the structural condition of the bridge, an old structure that had already been included in the ministry's plans for reconstruction. He directed authorities to expedite the necessary procedures to remove the existing structure and construct new concrete box culverts based on a hydrological study that takes into account water flow volumes and the characteristics of the site. The aim is to ensure efficient drainage of floodwater and improve road safety in the future.
To reduce the impact of the road closure on local residents, an agreement was reached during the tour to construct a temporary side road alongside the existing bridge. The temporary route will include water drainage culverts and concrete protection structures to maintain local traffic and pedestrian movement until the bridge is rebuilt and the road is permanently reopened.
Abu Al-Saman stressed the need to accelerate construction of the temporary road, while continuing to divert trucks and other through traffic to alternative routes, including the Kafrein, Baptism Site and Al-Rawda roads, according to available traffic routes.
In coordination with the Balqa Governorate and the District of Northern Jordan Valley, he also directed authorities to expedite the removal of existing utilities and facilities located on the bridge. Relevant agencies have already begun removing suspended utility lines and services in preparation for demolition and reconstruction work.
Abu Al-Saman also inspected the Sayyagha Road linking Madaba and Al-Rama, where soil erosion occurred at several locations in the Madaba and Balqa governorates as a result of rainwater and flash floods flowing from surrounding mountainous areas.
The minister ordered immediate action to repair the affected sites, including removing soil and debris from the road surface and clearing the entrances of rainwater drainage culverts to ensure the smooth flow of water and prevent it from accumulating on the roadway.
He also instructed authorities to install precast drainage culverts at new locations where the floods demonstrated a need for additional water outlets, particularly in areas where new water channels had formed from runoff coming down from higher elevations. The measures are intended to increase the road's capacity to handle water flows and reduce the recurrence of damage in the future.
During the tour, Abu Al-Saman stressed that the safety of citizens and road users remains the ministry's top priority. He emphasized the need for a rapid response to weather-related damage, increased field operations and coordination with relevant authorities to complete the required repairs as quickly as possible.
He said the ministry continues to monitor the condition of roads and water infrastructure through its technical and field teams and to take the necessary measures to repair damaged sites, prioritizing locations that pose risks to public safety or disrupt citizens' movement.
The ministry is also working to implement sustainable engineering solutions that improve infrastructure efficiency and strengthen its ability to withstand exceptional weather conditions.
