Syria Launches Engineering Assessment of Nassib-Bab al-Hawa Highway Ahead of Full Rehabilitation

Syria's Ministry of Transport has launched a full engineering assessment of the international highway stretching from the Nassib border crossing with Jordan to the Bab al-Hawa crossing with Turkey, as a preparatory step toward a comprehensive rehabilitation project aimed at bringing the corridor up to international standards.

Transport Minister Yarob Badr announced that the assessment is designed to produce a precise technical diagnosis of the road's current condition across all engineering dimensions, in preparation for the volume of transit traffic expected in the coming period. He confirmed that the ministry has begun implementing all executive measures required to apply the trilateral memorandum of understanding signed on 7 April in Amman, with the participation of Jordan and Turkey.

Outcomes of the Trilateral Ministerial Meeting

These steps follow the outcomes of the Syrian-Jordanian-Turkish transport ministers' meeting, which produced the MoU and an agreed implementation roadmap defining working mechanisms and project phases. The Supreme Coordination Council meeting between Syria and Jordan, held on 12 April in Amman, further discussed the importance of applying the MoU's provisions and streamlining overland transport procedures to reduce time and costs, with a view to restoring a direct transport system between the two countries.

Regional Rail Connectivity

Minister Badr revealed that the ministry is preparing a comprehensive regional rail connectivity map linking Turkey, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia, incorporating a detailed assessment of existing railway lines alongside proposals for future projects to revive this vital network. The map aims to connect all four countries and extend through to the Gulf states, reinforcing Syria's role as a pivotal corridor within the regional transport system.

Badr noted that coordination with Jordan and Turkey is ongoing, and that national coordinators have been requested from both sides to supply the technical data needed to finalize the map and present it within regional cooperation frameworks.

These initiatives form part of broader regional efforts to revive transport corridors through Syria after years of disruption to international roads and railways caused by the conflict, as the three countries move toward rebuilding infrastructure and strengthening logistical connectivity to support trade and transit flows.