Aqabat Dala' is a mountain road that connects the provinces of Aseer and Jazan, in the southwestern region of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, through the road that runs between the city of Abha in Aseer and al-Darb Governorate in Jazan, spanning 11.4 km.
Aqabat Dala' designation
Terminologically, the term Aqaba refers to steep parts of valleys, particularly those stretching westward from Aseer mountains toward the Red Sea. The road was named as such because navigating these inclines was among the most strenuous and formidable tasks in ancient times. The perils of the road extend beyond its challenging mountainous terrain and steep roadway inclines to encompass rockslides and fog.
Aqabat Dala' location
Aqabat Dala' connects Aseer Province to Jazan Province. It serves the governorates, centers, and villages between both provinces. It spans 11.4 km and is located on al-Darb-Abha road spanning 78.8 km. It features three tunnels and sixty-seven bridges.
Aqabat Dala' reconstruction
Several projects aimed at improving safety levels and reconstructing the road have been completed. These projects encompass the Aqabat Dala' road completion and reconstruction project, which was executed in 2007 at a cost of SAR330 million. The project covered 32 km and involved the construction of nine concrete bridges, 170 canals for stormwater drainage, and two tunnels spanning 550 linear m. A third tunnel was subsequently added to the road. In this project, the dangers of the curve of the road at Wadi Atma Bridge were reduced, the number of bridges was increased to eleven, and 145 canals were added to mitigate flood-related issues.
Maintenance works aimed at reducing the dangers of the road continued with a project executed in 2017, after torrents eroded soil in various lpcations at Aqabat Dala', resulting in the collapse of road segments and the dislodgment of rocks from the mountaintops following a heavy rainfall event that affected the region.
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