Road projects in the KIngdom are open to foreign companies, Dr. Jubarah Bin Eid Al-Suraiseri, Minister of Transport, said here on Wednesday. Al-Suraiseri said some national contracting companies have sought the help of foreign companies in carrying out some projects. Commenting on the shoddy work by some contracting companies, the minister said laxity on their part has forced his ministry to withdraw projects awarded to about 20 contractors. The minister's comments came during an inspection tour in Jouf region. “It was the last option for us,” he said. The ministry's allocation in the new State budget, he said, included huge projects that will be carried out in different parts of the Kingdom noting that his ministry is currently constructing roads in several towns and rural complexes covering a length of 30 km. He said several large road projects have been completed and others are nearing completion. In this connection he cited the example of a 1,600- km dual track Northern Intern national road, 90 percent of which is already finished. He said the road had to be reconstructed because some technical defects were discovered. During his current tour, Al-Suraiseri has traveled 2,000 km by car taking him to Domat Al-Jandl, Tabrjal, Al-Quryat, Traif, Arar, Rafha and Hafr Al-Batin in the Eastern Province.
