Thumamah Road Diversion Active in Riyadh 2026

Drivers in Riyadh should plan for a new traffic diversion on Thumamah Road, part of a major development project on the corridor. The current eastern-section diversion took effect on 12 September 2026 in the area where Thumamah Road meets Al Sahabah Road.

Under the new arrangement, traffic has been shifted to the parallel road on the northern side of Thumamah Road, which now operates with three lanes in each direction. A dedicated service lane has also been provided to keep access open to adjacent buildings during construction.

The works at this location include a bridge and a tunnel at the Thumamah Road–Al Sahabah Road intersection. The wider eastern-section project spans about 8 kilometres and is designed to raise the road's capacity to more than 200,000 vehicles easing congestion on one of the city's busy routes.

Earlier works on the same corridor

This is not the only activity on Thumamah Road this year. Separate work earlier in 2026 began at the Thumamah Road–Othman Bin Affan Road intersection, which includes a tunnel and four flyovers. A detour there was activated on 16 April 2026. The official inquiry number listed for the detour plan is 19998.

There are no fees or charges tied to the traffic diversion itself. No end date has been announced; the diversion will stay in place throughout the construction period. Motorists are advised to follow posted signage, reduce speed near the work zones, and allow extra travel time when using Thumamah Road.

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