Syria's Transport Ministry Launches National Road Rehabilitation Plan Linking Governorates

Plan Launch and Scope

Syria's Ministry of Transport has announced a comprehensive national plan to rehabilitate the country's central road network in line with internationally recognized technical standards. Transport Minister Yaarab Badr, speaking at a press conference on Sunday, stated that the ministry is actively soliciting proposals from foreign specialized companies to participate in rebuilding projects, with the aim of ensuring the highest levels of technical quality.

Priority Projects and Road Corridors

The plan encompasses a series of priority infrastructure projects, most notably the rehabilitation of the M45 highway and the construction of a new public road linking the capital Damascus with Deir ez-Zor governorate, a move intended to strengthen connectivity between the northeastern regions and the capital while completing the eastern road network. Additional projects include:

• Rehabilitation of the Nasib–Damascus motorway
• Rehabilitation of the Damascus–Homs corridor
• Rehabilitation of the Homs–Aleppo corridor
• The Saraqib–Idlib road link
• Construction of a second branch of the Damascus–Palmyra–Deir ez-Zor road

Northeastern Connectivity as a Strategic Priority

Minister Badr emphasized that linking the northeastern regions to Damascus constitutes a special priority within the plan, citing the economic and geographic significance of those areas in the coming phase. The planned projects collectively aim to raise the efficiency of the road network, enhance road safety, and support national economic activity.

Emergency Bridge and Road Plan

In a related development, the Ministries of Transport and Finance jointly announced an emergency plan at the start of June for the rehabilitation of bridges and vital roads across Syria. The announcement followed a meeting between Minister Badr, Finance Minister Mohammad Yasser Barnieh, and the Director General of the General Establishment for Road Transport, Muath Najjar. The plan focuses on repairing damaged bridges in Raqqa and Deir ez-Zor governorates and securing the necessary funding, alongside the allocation of dedicated credits within the 2026 state budget for priority infrastructure projects.

Multi-Year Road Development Programme

The broader plan also incorporates a three-year programme for the development of the main inter-governorate road network. This includes the rehabilitation of key corridors, most notably the Nasib–Daraa–Damascus–Aleppo route and the Damascus–Palmyra–Deir ez-Zor road, as well as a feasibility study for the construction of new bridges over the Euphrates River to further strengthen inter-governorate connectivity and improve transport efficiency and safety.