Jordanian Prime Minister Hani Mulki on Thursday (September 14th) attended the launch ceremony of a project to revamp the Desert Road, funded by a grant and soft loan from Saudi Arabia through the Saudi Development Fund (SDF), the Jordan Times reported.
Mulki and SDF deputy chairman Yousef Bin Ibrahim Al Bassam unveiled a plaque to officially launch the project during a ceremony in Umm al-Rasas area on the Desert Road, in the presence of several Jordanian and Saudi officials.
The highway stretches for 220 kilometres, connecting the four southern governorates with the central and northern regions of the kingdom.
The project is expected to cost $224 million, and is slated to be completed within 22 months.
Mulki highlighted the importance of the road as the main point of access to the Aqaba port, and for connecting Jordan with Saudi Arabia through al-Mudawwarah crossing.
The prime minister said the project is among several that were implemented with the help of Saudi funds, including the expansion of the airport road to six lanes.
Other projects include the rehabilitation and expansion of the Zarqa-Azraq-Omari Road that leads to Saudi Arabia, which is expected to be completed in early 2018.
Mulki stressed the government’s commitment to employing Jordanians in such infrastructure projects, expressing hope that the Desert Road will serve the national economy and positively reflect on residents of adjacent areas.
