The Al-Rastan Strategic Bridge rehabilitation project in Homs Governorate represents one of the most vital infrastructure recovery initiatives in Syria. Located on the M5 international highway linking the northern and southern parts of the country, this bridge is a primary transportation artery. The project is currently being implemented to restore full service to the bridge after severe damage, ensuring safe and efficient transit for both civilians and commercial transport.

Actual rehabilitation work began on 21 May 2025, during which the piers were fixed, the girders were cast, and a large part of the structural elements were completed; however, the bridge remained partially closed throughout the works.
The activities then stopped or slowed down for a short period due to security/logistical conditions or a technical assessment, as mentioned in specialized sources dealing with the reconstruction file.

2026 UPDATE
Completion of qualification and final completion phase
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The Deputy Minister of Emergency and Disaster Management and Director of the Syrian Civil Defense, Munir Mustafa, confirmed that the project to rehabilitate the Rastan Bridge has entered its final stages, after the work teams were able to install the last girder.

The project is approximately 85 percent complete, having finished the most complex phases. The remaining work is expected to take about two months, with the bridge anticipated to open to traffic between May 15th and the end of the month.
For his part, the project manager at the Technical Engineering Works Company, Engineer Abdul Karim Qaisoun, noted the completion of the difficult construction work, particularly the removal and installation of the girders. He explained that work is currently focused on pouring the slabs and ties, as well as painting, lighting, and paving. It is worth mentioning that the Rastan Bridge rehabilitation project is being implemented by the Syrian Civil Defense, in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), with funding from the United Nations Humanitarian Fund for Syria (SHF), and in coordination with the Ministry of Public Works and Housing.

------------UPDATE 11.05.2026---------------

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The Civil Defense said on Sunday, May 11, that engineering teams had begun laying asphalt on the Rastan Bridge in Homs Governorate after completing the construction and insulation work.

The Civil Defense explained through its official channels that the asphalt paving operations are being carried out in parallel with the completion of the preparation and installation of lighting poles, and the implementation of technical maintenance work on the pillars and supports.

Maintenance and rehabilitation work continues on the Rastan Bridge, a vital artery linking northern and southern Syria via the M5 international highway, as part of a project implemented by the Civil Defense teams in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and with support from the United Nations Humanitarian Fund for Syria (SHF).

------------ UPDATE 19.05.2026---------------

1. Current Traffic and Operational Status

• Fully Operational: The bridge is currently in full service with both lanes (northbound and southbound) open to traffic. There are no full closures on this international axis.
• Routine Maintenance: Technical teams from the General Establishment for Road Communications (Homs Branch) conduct regular maintenance. This includes repairing the mercurial expansion joints and resurfacing asphalt segments deformed by overloaded cargo trucks.

2. Road Safety and Lighting

• Solar Energy System: The perimeter of the bridge and its steep approach ramps have been equipped with solar-powered warning lights to enhance night-time visibility and reduce accident rates.
• Reflective Road Signs: New directional signs and phosphorus edge-reflectors have been installed to alert drivers approaching the bridge structure.

3. Strategic Importance

• The Rastan Bridge remains the primary transport artery connecting central Syria to the north. It experiences a heavy volume of daily traffic, serving as a critical route for commercial shipping trucks and passenger travel between governorates.