Sana'a: More than 12 billion YER has been reported as the cost for road maintenance in 2024 as Yemen grapples with significant economic challenges affecting its infrastructure upkeep. The efforts to maintain and repair roads have been severely impacted due to a decade-long aggression and blockade, causing a decline in financial resources dedicated to road maintenance.
According to Yemen News Agency, the General Organization for Roads and Bridges, backed by the road maintenance fund, is responsible for carrying out essential maintenance tasks. However, the ongoing conflict in Yemen has led to a drastic reduction in public revenues since 2015, limiting funds for periodic road maintenance. Engineer Abdulrahman al-Hadrami, chairman of the board of directors of the General Organization for Roads and Bridges, explained that this financial decline has resulted in extensive damage to the road network, posing a significant threat to its functionality.
The organization has adopted emergency measures to address the maintenance challenges. The reduced financial allocations have forced the organization to decrease the thickness of asphalt layers during maintenance, from five centimeters to one centimeter, as a temporary solution to prolong the lifespan of the roads. This strategy aims to maintain road conditions for three to four years until financial conditions improve.
Engineer al-Hadrami emphasized the need for alternative solutions and treatments, such as implementing additional asphalt layers ranging from 2 centimeters to 5 millimeters, depending on road conditions. These measures help reduce the financial burden associated with frequent maintenance.
The maintenance and rehabilitation of roads have become a critical issue, requiring substantial funds that are difficult to secure in the current economic climate. Despite these challenges, necessary treatments are being implemented to preserve the road network's readiness and reduce accidents and vehicle wear.
In 2024, road maintenance activities witnessed significant movement across various branches and maintenance centers. Engineer Abdulkader Badi, director of the general maintenance department, stated that the total cost of road maintenance last year amounted to 12 billion and 73 million YER, with contributions from the Road Maintenance Fund, local authorities, and community efforts.
The General Corporation for Roads and Bridges has also invested in new equipment, spending over 1.051 billion YER on machinery such as bulldozers, backhoe loaders, and asphalt spreaders. Additionally, the maintenance department has undertaken equipment repair programs, costing 218.9 million YER, to ensure the continued functionality of its machinery.
As part of its plan for the current year, the department aims to renovate kiosks at branches and maintenance centers, provide asphalt reserves, secure diesel supplies, and purchase spare parts for new equipment. These efforts are aimed at improving performance and accelerating project completion across various governorates in Yemen.