B. Alshalalfah et al., Int. J. Transp. Dev. Integr., Vol. 2, No. 1 (2018) 84–97© 2018 WIT Press, ISSN: 2058-8305 (paper format), ISSN: 2058-8313 (online), DOI: 10.2495/TDI-V2-N1-84-97TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT OF MEGA INFRASTRUCTURECONSTRUCTION PROJECTS: SUCCESS STORY ANDLESSONS LEARNED FROM THE RIYADH METROPROJECTB. ALSHALALFAH1, J. NAFAKH2, Y. AL BANNA3& I. KAYSI41Transport and Infrastructure Department, SETS International, Lebanon2Arriyadh Development Authority, Saudi Arabia3SETS International, Saudi Arabia4Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, American University of Beirut, LebanonABSTRACTThe Saudi Arabian government is investing more than $22 billion to build a metro system in Riyadh,with a total length of 176km across 6 lines and 85 stations. The metro network has been under con-struction since 2013 and is expected to be in operation by 2019. One of the biggest challenges facedby the authorities early on is as to how to manage traffic during the construction period especially thatthe metro lines running along some of the busiest corridors in the city. Specifically, the constructionof Metro Line 5 was expected to cause major disruptions due to several reasons, among them are sig-nificant traffic volume uses this main road; wide extent of construction works (very large worksites,undertaken at busy junctions); concurrent execution of other infrastructure projects in the vicinity; andthe presence of more than 20 government entities along the road. In this regard, a Comprehensive Stra-tegic Traffic Management Plan for Line 5 was developed based on the state-of-the-art traffic manage-ment practices, supplemented by innovative and outside the box concepts. The plan included physicalmeasures such as converting major roads into temporary one-way roads, parking management, junctionimprovements, modifications to traffic signals as well as soft measures such as shifting working hoursfor some government entities and a very aggressive community outreach programme. The plan wasimplemented in 2015, and was well received by the general public in addition to the key stakeholders.
